Aviation Gin is a batch distilled dry style American Gin from House Spirits Distillery, a USA-based distillery in Portland, Oregon, co-owned by NFL player Joe Montana.
Aviation Gin (42% ABV) is handcrafted in small 100-case batches by a small, dedicated team of master distillers in Portland, Oregon. It is distilled using a proprietary maceration process that gives it its unique flavour.
Made from a 100% neutral rye base, the gin is floral on the nose with subtle botanicals of juniper, lavender, cardamom and anise. The brand name is inspired by the classic Aviation Cocktail which is a mix of gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette and lemon juice, a drink that dates back to the early twentieth century.
Citrus flavours are evident on the palate, with notes of cardamom, sarsaparilla and lavender, the latter is more subdued than on the nose. Soft and smooth, it has a creamy mouthfeel and a warming finish. The spirit is well suited to gin and tonic, Martinis and in cocktails such as Melancholy Baby from TheLoft in Sydney.
Aviation Gin was co-founded by bartender Ryan Magarian. The brand has introduced a new bottle design with a square flask-like shape and classic aircraft imagery on the label, and more recently, the brand was purchased by actor Ryan Reynolds and later by Diageo.
Aviation Gin is featured in Top 10 Gins article.
This article was originally published on April 5, 2013 on our sister website Gourmantic.