Woody Creek Distillers Colorado Gin starts with a 100% potato distillate. The botanicals include citrus peels from lemons, oranges and limes, lemongrass from Osage Gardens in Rifle, Colorado, a blend of European and Rocky Mountain juniper, coriander, cinnamon, angelica, hibiscus, grains of paradise, lavender, cranberries and rose hips. The botanicals steep in the potato distillate for 18 hours in the copper pot portion of the Maisy still. After steeping, the mixture is redistilled through the column portion of the still. Reverse osmosis water is added to bring the gin to 47% ABV before bottling. It is priced at $39.99. In 2018, actor William H. Macy joined Woody Creek Distillers as the company’s official "spokesdude."
The juniper comes through, pronounced but not overwhelming. But it’s the collision of other flavors, the citric notes, the cranberry tartness, a bit of mineralization from the spices, that really pushes this gin into welcome, unexpected territories.
The palate is dry and citrusy, with a good burst of juniper backed by subtle spices and grassy notes. The finish is fairly clean and balanced, with citrus slightly edging out the other aromatics — less junipery, more fruity.