Being a Londoner born and bred, gin, the quintessential spirit that whispers tales of juniper, botanicals, and British gin distilling history, is deeply rooted in my DNA.
Although across the pond, the American craft distillery scene has embraced the art of gin creation, tweaking and refining to put its own stamp on this classic spirit.
Let’s embark on a voyage across the states, savouring the stories and spirits of 14 of the finest American gin brands. As one gin lover to another, I assure you, this path is worth wandering.
- Best American Gin Brands
- 1. Aviation American Gin
- 2. New Amsterdam Gin
- 3. Brooklyn Gin
- 4. St. George Spirits Gin
- 5. Bluecoat American Dry Gin
- 6. Death’s Door Gin
- 7. Leopold Bros American Small Batch Gin
- 8. Greenhook Ginsmiths
- 9. Barr Hill Gin
- 10. Few Spirits Gin
- 11. Dorothy Parker New York Gin
- 12. Big Gin
- 13. Spirit Works Gin
- 14. Ransom Spirits
- Gin Distillation Process
- Conclusion
- Further Reading
Best American Gin Brands
From American Dry, Old Tom, Dry Rye and even Barrel-Aged, here is my take on the best American gin brands to get acquainted with.
1. Aviation American Gin
Overview
- Distiller: House Spirits Distillery
- Country: USA
- County: Portland, Oregon
- Website: aviationgin.com
Review
Nestled in the vibrant heart of Portland, Oregon, Aviation American Gin soars high with its unique, botanical-driven profile, including lavender, cardamom, and sarsaparilla. Try it in an Aviation cocktail.
This is the Hollywood star of the American gin scene, thanks to co-owner Ryan Renolds, and veers away from the traditional, heavily juniper-forward character to a more balanced, smoother gin.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
2. New Amsterdam Gin
Overview
- Distiller: New Amsterdam Spirits Company
- Country: USA
- County: Modesto, California
- Website: newamsterdamspirits.com
Review
From the bustling streets of Modesto, California, comes New Amsterdam Gin, now named Stratusphere – a modern twist on the classic spirit. Its profile is markedly citrus-forward with a crisp.
New Amsterdam Gin stands out for its approachability, ideal for those looking to craft a gin cocktail that sings with a citrus melody. Great in a Vesper Martini.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
3. Brooklyn Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Brooklyn Craft Works
- Country: USA
- County: New York
- Website: brooklyngin.com
Review
Brooklyn Gin captures the essence of its New York roots, handcrafted in small batches with fresh citrus peels of lemon, lime, orange, clementine, and hand-cracked juniper.
The result? A vibrant, full-bodied gin that dances on the palate with a lively burst of freshness. It works well with gin mixers and respects the old adage, quality over quantity.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
4. St. George Spirits Gin
Overview
- Distiller: St. George Spirits
- Country: USA
- County: Alameda, California
- Website: stgeorgespirits.com
Review
Hailing from Alameda, California, St. George Spirits is a trailblazer in the American craft distillery scene. Their trio of gins – Terroir, Botanivore, and Dry Rye – each offer a distinct, unforgettable journey.
Their Terroir Gin, with its earthy, forest-inspired notes, is a personal favourite of mine, evoking a stroll through the California coastal woodlands.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
5. Bluecoat American Dry Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Philadelphia Distilling
- Country: USA
- County: Philadelphia
- Website: bluecoatgin.com
Review
Philadelphia’s Bluecoat American Dry Gin leans heavily on citrus and juniper, distilled in a custom-built copper pot still. The result is a beautifully balanced gin with a smooth, clean London Dry style finish.
In addition, Bluecoat Barrel-Finished Gin is a toast to American ingenuity and a must-try for those seeking a gin with character and depth.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
6. Death’s Door Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Dancing Goat Distillery
- Country: USA
- County: Wisconsin
- Website: deathsdoorspirits.com
Review
Death’s Door Gin is made by Wisconsin’s Dancing Goat Distillery. A simple blend of juniper, coriander, and fennel is macerated and vapour-infused, so it’s London Dry-esque in its flavour delivery.
The gin is named after Lake Michigan’s treacherous Death’s Door passage, reflecting the distillery’s daring spirit. It’s bold, it’s clean and ideal for a Corpse Reviver No. 2 gin cocktail.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
7. Leopold Bros American Small Batch Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Leopold Bros
- Country: USA
- County: Denver, Colorado
- Website: leopoldbros.com
Review
Denver, Colorado, is home to Leopold Bros and their meticulously crafted American Small Batch Gin and a Navy-Strength Gin.
What sets it apart is the distillery’s fractional distillation process, where each botanical is distilled separately before being blended, resulting in a remarkably nuanced and feisty spirit.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
8. Greenhook Ginsmiths
Overview
- Distiller: Greenhook Ginsmiths
- Country: USA
- County: Brooklyn, New York
- Website: greenhookgin.com
Review
Located in Brooklyn, New York, Greenhook Ginsmiths is a modern marvel of gin distillation. Utilising a vacuum still, they distil their gin at lower temperatures, preserving the flavours of their botanicals.
The result is a gin collection of extraordinary purity, where floral and citrus dance with cinnamon and chamomile. The brand’s American Dry and sweeter Old Tom Gin are spot on.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
9. Barr Hill Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Caledonia Spirits
- Country: USA
- County: Vermont
- Website: caledoniaspirits.com
Review
From the verdant landscapes of Vermont comes Barr Hill Gin, a unique spirit sweetened with raw honey post-distillation created by Caledonia Spirits.
The gin celebrates the local landscape, Vermont’s flora, and the bees that pollinate it. The addition of honey imparts a subtle sweetness and depth that shines.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
10. Few Spirits Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Few Spirits
- Country: USA
- County: Evanston, Illinois
- Website: fewspirits.com
Review
Evanston, Illinois, once a dry town, is now home to Few Spirits, an award-winning whiskey producer who has crafted a defiant gin made from white whiskey.
Infused with a blend of traditional botanicals and exotic spices, Few Spirits Gin is an American gin that bridges the gap between old and new, tradition and innovation.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
11. Dorothy Parker New York Gin
Overview
- Distiller: New York Distilling Company
- Country: USA
- County: New York
- Website: nydistilling.com
Review
New York Distilling Company’s Dorothy Parker American Gin is a tribute to the legendary wit and writer, capturing her spirit in liquid form.
A blend of traditional botanicals, including hibiscus petals and cinnamon, gives this gin a unique character that’s both bold and balanced.
It’s a gin collection that invites contemplation and conversation, much like Parker herself.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
12. Big Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Captive Spirits
- Country: USA
- County: Seattle
- Website: captivespiritsdistilling.com
Review
Coming from the Pacific Northwest, Big Gin in Seattle, just off Lake Washington Ship Canal, uses 100-gallon Vendome pot stills to distil their gin creations.
With London Dry, Bourbon Barrelled and Peat Barreled varieties on offer, Big Gin is a nod to tradition with a gaze firmly set on bold innovation.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
13. Spirit Works Gin
Overview
- Distiller: Spirit Works Distillery
- Country: USA
- County: Sonoma County, California
- Website: spiritworksdistillery.com
Review
Sonoma County, California, known for its wine, also houses the remarkable Spirit Works Distillery and knows a thing or two about gin.
Crafted from organic wheat, a distinctive blend of botanicals, leaning heavy on citrus, Spirit Works Gin ranges from bright and zesty to the rich barrel-aged variety.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
14. Ransom Spirits
Overview
- Distiller: Ransom Spirits
- Country: USA
- County: Sheridan, Oregon
- Website: ransomspirits.com
Review
Lastly, from the verdant valleys of Sheridan, Oregon, award-winning Ransom Spirits presents a gin collection that’s a bridge between past and present.
Their Old Tom Gin, for example, is a historical recreation, aged in wine barrels and put through an alembic pot still, offering a richer, more nuanced profile than most modern gins.
Pricing & Info
You can check the latest pricing, product information, and order online.
Gin Distillation Process
I have put together this simple table outlining each American gin brand covered in this article, plus their general distillation process.
Please note that the specific details of each brand’s process (and each gin in their collection) can vary slightly, but this gives a handy general overview.
| No. | Brand | Distillation Process |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aviation American Gin | Batch Distillation in Pot Stills, with a focus on a balance of botanicals beyond just juniper. |
| 2 | New Amsterdam Gin | Five-times distilled in a column still for a smoother finish, with a unique emphasis on citrus flavors. |
| 3 | Brooklyn Gin | Handcrafted with fresh citrus peels and hand-cracked juniper, using copper pot stills for small-batch production. |
| 4 | St. George Spirits Gin | Three distinct gins each with a unique process, including Terroir Gin distilled with wild Californian botanicals. |
| 5 | Bluecoat American Dry Gin | Distilled in a custom-built copper pot still, focusing on organic botanicals for a classic dry style. |
| 6 | Death’s Door Gin | Utilizes a simple botanical mix, distilled in a column still for a clean, crisp profile. |
| 7 | Leopold Bros American Small Batch Gin | Each botanical is distilled separately then blended, allowing for precise flavour profiling. |
| 8 | Greenhook Ginsmiths | Vacuum distillation at lower temperatures to preserve delicate botanical flavours, especially their floral notes. |
| 9 | Barr Hill Gin | Distilled with juniper and raw honey added post-distillation for a unique, sweet finish. |
| 10 | Few Spirits Gin | Grain-to-glass distillation with a mix of traditional and exotic botanicals, emphasising spice and citrus. |
| 11 | Dorothy Parker American Gin | Pot-distilled with a blend of traditional and contemporary botanicals for a nuanced flavour profile. |
| 12 | Big Gin | Pot still distillation with a bold juniper forefront complemented by other botanicals for a traditional taste. |
| 13 | Spirit Works Gin | Batch distilled in a pot still, with a wheat base and a range of botanicals for a balanced gin. |
| 14 | Ransom Spirits | Old Tom Gin is pot-distilled, then barrel-aged, blending historical techniques with modern craft. |
Conclusion
Embarking on this gin journey across America, from the forests of Oregon to the bustling streets of New York, one can’t help but be impressed by the diversity and creativity of American gin distillers.
From the crispness of Aviation Gin to the intriguing richness of Bluecoat Barrel-Finished or the simplicity of Death’s Door, there is an American gin to delight your tastebuds.
Also Read: 10 London Dry Gins For The Perfect G&T
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from The Drinks Geek blog. We write articles on several fascinating areas of drinks, including different brands, drink types, cocktail recipes and more.
