PRODUCTION

Founded in 2006, Aviation gin takes its name from the Aviation cocktail, which was created in the 1900s. The gin takes a Dutch style rye spirit base combined with with juniper, lavender, anise, sarsaparilla, orange peel and cardamom. It is referred to as an “American dry gin”, meaning the taste profile is less strongly juniper flavoured than some other gins.

INFUSION

It all starts with our precise blend of botanicals, sourced from around the world – cardamom, coriander, French lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, juniper, and two kinds of orange peel. The botanicals are placed in nylon sacks and suspended in a pure, neutral grain spirit for 18 hours in macerating tanks.

DISTILLATION

The macerate is then pumped into a still along with pure water. Steam jackets heat the macerate, the vapours go into the condenser, which cools the vapours to form the gin distillate.

THE CUT

In a meticulously monitored process, the first fluid leaving the still, the “heads,” is removed. Collecting the “heart of the spirit” throughout the run, the distillers then determine the end of the cycle and make the final cut, “the tails.” This process takes approximately 7 hours and at this point, the “heart cut” is 142 proof.

BLENDING & BOTTLING

The “heart cut” is transferred to a blending tank where pure water is added, bringing the gin to the desired 84 proof. It is then sent to the bottling line for filling, capping, and labelling. A craft production from beginning to end, Aviation is then hand-packed into boxes and ready to ship.