Chief Gowanus Traditional New Netherland Gin

Product of: United States

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To quote the informative back label, “Distilled in the old Dutch colony of Brooklyn from grains grown in New York State, Chief Gowanus is based on an early American recipe for making a version of “Holland gin” out of American rye whiskey.

“With a little help from Brooklyn’s resident historian of drink, Dr. David Wondrich, we’ve taken our unaged, double-distilled rye whiskey, put it back in our traditional pot still with a few shovelfuls of juniper berries and a handful of Cluster hops (the variety likely to have been in use in 1809, from whence the recipe originates) and run it through a third time. Three months in an oak barrel to smooth it out a bit and the result is a gin that, we like to believe, would have bought a smile to the legendary Gowanus, great chief of the Ganarsees back in the early days when Brooklyn was still Dutch.”

Review and Tasting

Sampled on 04/02/2016

Appearance:

Clear, pale straw yellow.

Aroma:

Nutty, oily, fresh hay bales, eucalyptus and yeasty freshly baked brown raison bread with dried fruit and cinnamon.

Taste:

Dry buttery oak, spicy pine, brown bread and blackened fruitcake with hazelnut and powerful cinnamon and black pepper spice. Slightly oily mouthfeel.

Aftertaste:

Dry spicy finish with pine, eucalyptus, bready burnt fruitcake, nutmeg and cinnamon spice. Distinct Dutch jenever character with powerful rye spice.

Overall:

With its distinctive breadiness and spice, this Dutch style gin makes an interesting Martinez.