State Line Distillery Gin

Another warm day in Wisconsin, another locally sourced Wisconsin gin. This one, produced just about 60 miles away in Madison, adopts a hybrid strategy, balancing the "everything must be incredibly local" philosophy common to many contemporary gins here with the "who cares about locality as long as it's good" approach. The grain-based spirit (corn and wheat, sourced regionally) provides a clear link to the local terroir, but the botanicals are more open-minded, emphasizing juniper (potentially local), sage (also possibly local, though not a flavor that strongly evokes "Wisconsin"), and lemon (definitely not local). The positive aspect is that it all harmonizes well. The base spirit is roughly equivalent to 68°F/20°C and sunny weather – it's so pleasant that you barely notice it, apart from its agreeable nature. It's not overly heavy, but not insubstantial either; it's smooth and easygoing. While I don't mind a base spirit with a bit more impact, it's difficult to fault its perfect balance. The botanicals are similarly well-balanced – the evergreen notes of juniper, citrus brightness, and savory, earthy sage are all distinct (and in roughly that order from initial impression to the end), yet nothing overwhelms the others. If you've tried St. George's Terroir Gin and felt like you'd just been assaulted by a plate of breakfast sausages, this gin will help convince you that, with a more delicate touch, sage can be used in gin botanicals in ways that won't deter all but the most enthusiastic sage fans. I can envision various cocktail applications, but tonight, a gin and tonic with Fever Tree's Mediterranean Tonic Water (which is bright with citrus and herbal notes) is serving the purpose quite nicely.

I mixed this with tonic water and lime for a gin and tonic. All the flavors were detectable in this very smooth spirit; overall, a great gin.

Harmonious and smooth with a clean sage finish. Combine with simple syrup and fresh lime juice for an exceptional gin gimlet.

Smooth, rich, botanical notes with a pleasant citrus finish. Alright on its own, but shines in cocktails.