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Copper & Kings unveils juniper-forward gin
Kentucky-based brandy maker Copper & Kings has launched a juniper-forward variant of its American Dry Gin brand.
The Moons Of Juniper Dry Gin is “described as an ‘IPA’ in terms of juniper assertiveness”
The Moons Of Juniper Dry Gin is double distilled in alembic copper pot-stills, using a grape brandy base and honey with no neutral spirits.
The expression is made with crushed whole juniper berries, honey and classic gin botanicals including sweet orange peel, coriander, cardamom, angelica and grains of paradise.
The ingredients are then macerated for an extended period in warm grape brandy low-wine, then re-distilled together with vapour-distilled pulverised whole juniper berries, additional sweet orange peels and jasmine in the vapour basket.
The expression is described as “very bold”, with assertive tight juniper, forest pine and subtle woody spice, cloaked in a warm tropical orange, with bright tropical citrus.
“Our ambition is to be America’s most imaginative brandy producer, and also to perhaps aspire to be its most inventive gin distiller. We’re looking at exploring across the universe,” said Copper & Kings founder Joe Heron.
“This is a very confident gin, it could very well blow your mind and sweep you off your feet.”
Copper & Kings master distiller Brandon O’Daniel added: “This is a wonderful gin, very drinkable. We wanted to make it accessible at 96 proof versus a higher over-proof.
“We added honey during distillation to smooth out some of the harsher edges of aggressive juniper and layer smoothness and viscosity to the overall libation. There’s a ton of juniper in this, and juniper, especially crushed and pulverised, is quite oily, so we have a gin that has a nice cloudy tendency.
“We used sweet orange to add warmth and accessibility, and lime and grapefruit for brightness, for an overall relaxed tonality. I could describe it in this way – if a standard gin is a ‘lager’ in terms of intensity, then the Moons is an ‘IPA’ in terms of juniper assertiveness.”
The expression is recommended served in a gin and tonic, with ginger beer or in a Gibson.
Copper & Kings The Moons Of Juniper Dry Gin is available from the distillery, and through a limited number of select fine retailers and bars. It is priced at US$40.00 for 750ml.
In August last year, Copper & Kings unveiled three brandy-based gins: an American Dry Gin and two barrel-aged variants.