Gin Notes: Cascade Mountain Gin

by Jonathan M. Forester, Posted Nov 9th 2006 @ 5:05PM

Cascade Mountain Gin is 47.5abv / 95proof and made since 1996 at Bend Distillery in Bend, OR, it's received several awards including a silver medal at the 2006 World Beverage Competition. Made from hand picked wild mountain juniper berries from the Central Oregon high desert plateau and a mix of other local botanicals, and distilled in a copper alembic or pot still. Most gins are colorless with very few exceptions like Seagram's and Magellan, Cascade Mountain is not heavily filtered so it has a pleasing, very light gold color.

I can see why they called it Cascade Mountain Gin. When I poured a dram into a snifter, swirled it, and inhaled, it made me think back to when I worked as a wilderness and mountain guide. I flashed back to golden sunned, summer days; climbing through coniferous forests high in the Cascade Mountains. That spicy combination of pine, sage, aromatic grasses, wildflowers, and a hint of ozone from a sudden mountain storm that I remember fondly, wrapped up in liquid form. When I sipped it all those smells were repeated in the taste, and for such a full tasting and high proof gin it is remarkably smooth and soft with that slightly sweet and spicy/floral taste making it very refined and classy.

There is nothing I don't like about this gin and would use it primarily as a martini or sipping gin since even tonic might overwhelm the complex flavors, although I can see it lending some much appreciated complexity to a well made cocktail.

Filed Under: Lush Life, Raves & Reviews, Trends, Liquor Cabinet, Drink Recipes, Drinks, Tastings
Tags: america, bend distillery, cascade mountain gin, CascadeMountainGin, gin, liquor cabinet, spirits, west coast

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-10-2006 @2:33PM Blarg said... I just want to chime in and say how much I enjoy these gin tasting notes. They're always the highlight of my visits to this site.

Any plans to do Broker's? I'll admit I first bought it because the bottle has a plastic top hat, but it's now my favorite gin.
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Eventually, I have my old notes but since they are a few years old I want to go get a new bottle to give you the most up to date review... I am trying to stay on top of these reviews, but I have more bottles lined up than days in the week to try them all... Oh the pain!... and I will be doing other beverages starting next week as well. I just hope my liver can handle it since I don't spit. JMF
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11-10-2006 @11:58PM Cowboy_X said... I've bought a few bottles of Cascade Mountain and given them away as gifts for Christmas, explaining to the recipient that it's a local "micro-gin." Excellent stuff. Do Hendrick's next!--------------- I have been putting off Hendricks since I like it so much I drink it without doing reviews...-JMF
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