bend distillery - Articles and Posts from Slashfood

Posts with tag bend distillery

Gin Notes: Desert Juniper Gin

Posted Jul 31st 2007 5:53PM by Jonathan M. Forester
Filed under: Lush Life, Gin, Raves & Reviews, Trends, America, Spirits, Liquor Cabinet

Desert Juniper Gin is 41% abv. / 82 proof and like its more powerful sibling, Cascade Mountain Gin, is made by Bend Distillery in Bend, OR. This bottle is micro-distilled, hand bottled and numbered and from Batch # 124.

It has a light gold/yellow color to it and the aroma is that of very light juniper, citrus, and fruit; smelling slightly sweet, sharp, and dry at the same time. Its not as piney and floral as the Cascade Mountain and has a much softer and fuller aroma with some nice notes that are hard to pin down, but there seems to be a slightest hint of cedar going on and as it warms up even a warm touch of hazelnuts. What first started out very mild, develops depth and complexity in the nose.

The taste starts off very light and soft. Then you get a mild fruitiness and sweetness that develops; with just a touch of juniper, fruit and nuts. This is a light and mild gin that is smooth and soft. Tasted next to Cascade Mountain you immediately notice the difference. Desert Juniper is the soft and delicate, dusky younger sister to Cascade Mountain's big, sharp, and bold; mountain man big brother. This is a very nice gin, but on the lighter and more delicate end of the gin spectrum. If using with a mixer I would tend to stick lighter tasting juices like just a dash of grapefruit juice or tonic; and if in a martini, then very dry.

Gin Notes: Cascade Mountain Gin

Posted Nov 9th 2006 5:05PM by Jonathan M. Forester
Filed under: Tastings, West Coast, Lush Life, Gin, Raves & Reviews, Trends, America, Spirits, Liquor Cabinet

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.

#	Blogger	Posts	Cmts
1	Slashfood Editor	82	0
2	Alexa Weibel	51	2
3	Sarah LeTrent	34	0
4	Hanna Raskin	28	0
5	Emily Farris	17	0
6	Jennifer Lawinski	16	0
7	Sara Bonisteel	15	0
8	Michael Thomas Hastings	10	0
9	Jennifer Iserloh	8	0
10	David Koeppel	7	0
11	Jose Ralat Maldonado	6	1
12	Joshua M. Bernstein	6	2
13	Mike Pomranz	5	1
14	Kristine Hansen	4	0
15	Erin Meister	4	0
16	Max Shrem	4	0
17	John Devore	4	0
18	LeNell Smothers	4	0
19	Sarah Christine	3	0
20	Monika Bartyzel	3	0

Blogger

Posts

Cmts

Michael Thomas Hastings

Opinion: Are Helicopter Parents Coming in for a Landing? Gay Parents Do Not Warp Their Kids, Research Shows Celeb Clan Close-Up: Families Rock the American Music Awards	Fad Diets Make Obesity Crisis Worse Traditional Thanksgiving Recipes: Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole and More Man Loses 260 Pounds: Now He's an Ironman!
Style Stalker - Alexa Chung Rocks the Side Braid Target Collaborating With Eugenia Kim and Cynthia Vincent Black Friday Wake-Up Calls: Cindy Crawford Will Get You Out of Bed	John Mayer: 'I'm Not Exactly Bob Dylan' Why You're Searching for "Paula Dean Hit with Ham," "DJ Matthew Roberts," and "Kate Hudson Wardrobe Malfunction" What Would 'Seinfeld' Be Like If It Came Back Today?
Target to Give Away Marcel Wanders Bags On Black Friday Exclusive: The Jonas Brothers Leave Bel Air, Shack Up in a New House What To Ask Before Moving In	Weiner Race in San Francisco How to Prepare Your Pet for Holiday Travel The National Dog Show: How to Watch, What to Watch Out For

Gin Notes: Desert Juniper Gin

Gin Notes: Cascade Mountain Gin

Tip of the Day

Slashfood Features

RESOURCES

Featured Stories

Slashfood bloggers (30 days)

Most Commented On (60 days)

Updates From

Sites We Love