It’s hot y’all. Hard to enjoy a fine single malt when you’re sweating all the time. Fortunately there are other ways to imbibe, hence this curious bottle. Aged gin is nothing new, but this one puts a Texas twist on things and I personally think it’s one of the states best spirit offerings. Waterloo Gin is made by the Treaty Oak Distillery in Dripping Springs, TX, located about half an hour west of Austin in the pristine Texas hill country. This region of the state is known primarily for its wineries, some breweries, and the home of US President Lyndon Johnson. It’s also home to a handful of distilleries like Andalusia, Milam & Greene, and perhaps most notably, Garrison Brothers. Treaty Oak Sits on a sprawling property that has live music, smoked meats, killer brunch, and they make terrible whiskey. The hang is good, however, and it makes for a fun weekend getaway with the Mrs. plus, their gin is spectacular. Now, on to the bottle. Waterloo is the original name for the settlement that became the city of Austin. This bottle is supposedly an homage to how all spirits had to be transported across the frontier in ye good olde days. Their base gin is nice and agreeable, but the two years in a barrel under the Texas sun do something magical to it. The color is darker than many bourbons with a slight purple/orange hue in the glass. Nose is pungent and unique: typical gin botanicals, yes, but those are tied up in the trunk with the prominent notes of blueberry, lavender, vanilla, and balanced oak driving. These flavors translate to the palate, with the barrel influence really shining here leading to a satisfying finish at 47% ABV. A staggeringly good gin from a place that makes subpar whiskey. Mixes very well with ginger beer or fruit juices (I prefer limeade or pineapple juice). Solid replacement in an old fashioned (try with Demerara sugar and orange bitters. Thank me later). Doesn’t mix as well with tonic. The barrel influence overpowers the tonic. Distribution is increasing for this one. It’s about $30 on average, and can be a worthy malternative to add to your collection. Happy sipping.