Loch & Union American Dry Gin. Loch & Union Distilling, Napa Valley, California 2018 California Gin Distillery of the Year, distilled on custom German-built CARL copper pot-column stills with 12 botanicals sourced from eight countries, including the unusual addition of damiana leaf.

Loch & Union was co-founded by Master Distiller Colin Baker who holds a Master’s degree in Distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and Matthew Meyer, in Napa Valley, California. The distillery is built around a set of custom-designed CARL copper pot-column stills made in Germany, a closed-loop distillation system that makes them water and energy sustainable. Before settling on their final recipe, the team spent nearly a year testing over 150 botanicals and distilling more than 100 individual ingredients to perfect the balance of their American Dry Gin.

The 12 botanicals span eight countries. Juniper, coriander, and angelica root form the London Dry backbone. Cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, and cubeb berry add warmth and spice. Caraway, chamomile, and orris root contribute herbal and floral complexity. And damiana leaf a wild herb from Central America with purported aphrodisiac properties and a bitter, aromatic character is the gin’s most unusual botanical, adding an earthy, slightly bittersweet dimension that sets it apart from most American contemporaries. The result is a gin that drinks close to London Dry in structure but with distinctly American ambition Gold medal and 94 points at the New York International Spirits Competition, and Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Spirits 2019.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Bright orange and citrus lead with bitter orange rind, green leaves, and a hint of hay. Juniper is clear and assertive. Warming spice from cinnamon and star anise build underneath.
• Palate: Pepper and orange rind on entry, moving into pine bark and juniper. Earthy, spicy, and savory with a hint of salinity. Coriander, cubeb, and warming baking spice develop at mid-palate. Wonderfully dry throughout.
• Finish: Clean and dry with lingering juniper, bittersweet herbs, and a dark chocolate-tinged earthiness. Long and satisfying.

Specs

• Distillery: Loch & Union Distilling, Napa Valley, California
• Style: American Dry Gin
• Botanicals: Juniper, coriander, angelica root, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, cubeb berry, caraway, damiana leaf, chamomile, orris root, and one additional undisclosed botanical; sourced from 8 countries
• Distillation: Custom CARL copper pot-column stills
• ABV: 47.2% (94.4 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Loch & Union American Dry Gin taste like? Bright citrus and bitter orange rind on the nose with assertive juniper. The palate is dry, earthy, and spicy pepper, orange rind, pine bark, and juniper with warming baking spice mid-palate. The finish is clean with lingering juniper and a dark chocolate earthiness.
• What is damiana leaf? Damiana is a wild herb native to Central America with a bitter, aromatic character and purported medicinal properties. In gin, it contributes an earthy, slightly bittersweet complexity that distinguishes Loch & Union from most American contemporaries.
• What awards has Loch & Union won? Gold medal and 94 points at the New York International Spirits Competition, 2018 California Gin Distillery of the Year, and a place on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Spirits for 2019.
• What cocktails is Loch & Union best in? Best in a dry Martini with a citrus twist, where its earthy spice and juniper character can lead. Also excellent in a G&T where a squeeze of lime complements the botanical mix, or in a Last Word or Alaska Cocktail with Chartreuse.
• Why is Loch & Union based in Napa Valley? Co-founders Colin Baker and Matthew Meyer built their distillery in Napa, which is primarily wine country, to apply the same terroir-driven, craft-focused ethos to distilling that the region is known for in winemaking.

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