Gray Whale Gin 750ml

Gray Whale Gin comes from Golden State Distillery, founded in 2016 by husband-and-wife team Marsh Mokhtari and Jan Livingston and based in downtown Los Angeles, on the ground floor of the historic California Club building. Gray Whale Gin has been the distillery's flagship and, for years, its only release, quickly earning attention after winning the Brand Battle competition at the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America Convention. The gin's concept draws on the twelve-thousand-mile migration of the California gray whale, which travels annually between the warm lagoons of Baja and the cool waters of the Arctic along the Pacific coastline.

The gin starts with a neutral base distilled multiple times from non-GMO corn, following a London Dry method. Onto that base, six California botanicals are layered in, each tied to a point along the whale's migratory route: juniper from Big Sur, limes from Baja California, fir tree sprouts from a Sonoma tree farm, wild-harvested kombu sea kelp from Mendocino, mint from Santa Clara, and almonds from the Central Valley. The kombu and almonds are unusual additions for a gin, bringing savory umami depth and a creamy richness not typically found in the category. The finished spirit is bottled at 44 percent alcohol by volume, produced in small batches using sustainable harvesting practices, with a portion of sales supporting ocean conservation efforts.

The aroma opens with bright citrus, moving into juniper and a cool, resinous hint of coastal fir. On the palate, fresh mint and the umami quality of kombu round out the profile, before a smooth, creamy almond note carries through to the finish. The overall effect is bright and refreshing up front, with an unusually rich, savory-sweet close.