The Best of Modern Gin

Hailing from the nation’s capital, this craft gin features a distillate base of 63% rye, 26% corn, and a rich 11% malted barley. The botanical program prominently features the necessary juniper and the unique addition of local spicebush — a member of the laurel family with aromatic berries — along with coriander, grains of paradise, angelica, fennel, licorice, orris root, lemon peel, and lemongrass. The distillery focuses on grain and distillation also producing vodka and whiskey. Note: This product received a makeover with new packaging and "District Made" added to Ivy City Gin.

Made by Domaine Pinnacle in Quebec, Ungava Canadian Premium Gin celebrates the tundra environment of Ungava Peninsula in northern Quebec. Ungava Gin is made using a spirit made from locally-grown corn that has been infused with botanicals harvested from the Ungava region. These botanicals are infused both pre and post-distillation which accounts for its unique yellow color. Botanicals include: wild rose hips, arctic blend, cloudberry, labrador tea, crowberry, and nordic juniper.

The St. Augustine distillery is based in Florida’s eponymous town that carries the title of America’s oldest city. All products born here focus on the region’s long history and proximity to a variety of natural crops. For the gin that means using a 100% Florida-grown sugarcane for the neutral spirit and their legendary citrus. In order to preserve the spirit’s freshness, all botanicals (including juniper, coriander, angelica, lemon peel, and cassia bark) are ground using a vintage hand-mill right before use.

First released in 2006, Aviation Gin was developed in collaboration with Seattle bartender Ryan Magarian and Portland-based House Spirits Distillery. The American gin begins with a neutral grain spirit infused with seven botanicals—juniper, Elettaria cardamom, lavender, sarsaparilla, coriander, anise seed, and dried sweet orange peel—which are steeped and heated in a stainless-steel vessel before the spirit is redistilled. It is bottled at 42% ABV. The brand was acquired by Diageo in 2020, with actor Ryan Reynolds remaining a co-owner.

The craft spirit movement has never been confined to America's coasts, so it is of no surprise that even beer-centric Milwaukee is getting involved in the action. Central Standard Distillery may only date back to 2014, but they've made a splash with a small collection of spirits that are unabashedly nontraditional.

Gifford's Gin is described as a "gin for those who don't like gin." The gin is produced by Blackfish Spirits Distillery in Auburn, Washington, with a grain base. It is bottled at 40% ABV.

Odd Fellows No. 214 Gin is produced by Manatawny Still Works in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Bottled at 47% ABV, the name references an "interesting collection of individuals" who comprise the business.

Lock Keeper Gin is distilled by County Seat Spirits, a grain-to-class distillery in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The gin is flavored with organic juniper and other botanicals such as coriander, elderflower, and grains of paradise. The name for the gin alludes to the lock keepers on the Lehigh Canal.

Fremont Mischief Gin is made in Seattle, Washington and is made with at least some local botanicals that the distillery describes as "euphoric and aphrodisiac." The distillery also produces a couple of vodkas and several whiskeys at the distillery named for the neighborhood in which they are located.

3 Howls Good Old Fashioned Gin is produced at the 3 Howls Distillery in the SoDo neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Though not a London Dry, juniper is the central botanical. It is bottled at 90 proof.