Single Malt Gin? Botanicals Meet Barley in Unprecedented American Liquor

(Photo: Astraea Gin)

On Monday, Seattle-based Astraea Spirits unveiled what it claims to be the first American single malt gin. The nascent category — up until recently limited to a handful of overseas distillers — promises to combine old-school whisky technique with bold botanical flavor.

Dubbed Astraeus, or “Desert,” the release is distilled from 100% malted barely before being bottled at 57.5% ABV, just a few decimals shy of navy strength. The liquor’s subtitle pays homage to the inclusion of desert botanicals like sagebrush and heather, which were combined with ingredients including juniper, coriander, sweet orange peel, orris root and almond meal.

The expression joins similarly named gins in the distiller’s catalog like Mist, Meadow, Ocean and Forest. All are overseen by master distiller Danielle Leavell, an alum of the Brewing and Distilling program at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland.

“Astraeus represents a boundary-pushing evolution in both whiskey and gin,” Leavell remarked. “We’ve created something that’s truly unlike anything on the market. The result is a gin with the complexity of whiskey and the vibrancy of gin—a spirit that stands in a category of its own.”

A “single malt” is defined as any spirit produced at one distillery using barley as the sole grain in the mashbill. Though often associated with Scotland, single malts are also commonly seen in India, Japan, Ireland and, increasingly, the U.S.

Single malt gin, meanwhile, seems to hail from just as eclectic a mix of countries. Perusing the Internet, you’ll find Jung One distilled in Korea, Levantine distilled in Israel and Gilt distilled in the U.K. All are produced at distilleries that otherwise specialize in single malt whisky.

Apart from being in the U.S., Astraea is unique in that solely distills gin. Founded in 2019, the brand was recently shortlisted as a “Gin Brand of the Year” by the Spirits Business Awards. Other accolades include the induction of master distiller Danielle Leavell into the Gin Guild — Leavell was the second American admitted to the guild since its inception in 1638.

“To be recognized globally in so many ways — The Gin Guild, The Gin Masters, and now being shortlisted for Gin Brand of the Year — is a dream come true,” Leavell said earlier this month. “This validates that when you dedicate yourself to the pursuit of mastery, people will stand up and take notice. We thank the judging panel at The Spirits Business for recognizing what sets Astraea apart from the rest.”

The brand has yet to announce a price or release date for its upcoming single malt. For more information, find the Astraea Gin website here.

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