Aviation American Gin, with its distinctively less juniper-forward profile, has carved out a significant niche in the gin world. It has attracted a wave of drinkers who previously shied away from the traditionally piney and assertive London Dry gins. This shift has led to the rise of what is often called “New Western Dry” or “New American” gins, characterized by their balanced botanical blends and often floral or citrus-driven aromas. But what gin is similar to Aviation? Let’s dive into a exploration of gins that capture a similar spirit and flavor profile.
Understanding the Aviation Gin Profile
Before we identify alternatives, it’s essential to understand what makes Aviation Gin unique. It’s not just the celebrity association (Ryan Reynolds has helped immensely!), but the flavour profile that sets it apart.
Less Juniper, More Complexity: Traditional London Dry gins heavily emphasize juniper, the evergreen berry that defines the gin category. Aviation Gin, however, uses juniper more subtly. It complements it with botanicals like lavender, cardamom, coriander, anise, and dried sweet orange peel. This combination creates a gin that is both complex and approachable, lending itself well to cocktails and even sipping neat.
A Balanced Botanical Blend: The key to Aviation’s appeal is the careful balance of botanicals. The floral notes of lavender soften the sharper edges of juniper, while cardamom and coriander add a spicy warmth. The citrus provides brightness and vibrancy. It’s a symphony of flavours that work in harmony, rather than any one botanical dominating.
Smoothness and Approachability: Aviation Gin is known for its smoothness, making it particularly palatable for those new to gin. The lower juniper presence and balanced profile contribute to this smoothness, allowing other flavours to shine through. This approachability has been crucial to its success.
Gins in the New Western Dry Style
The “New Western Dry” style is the most obvious place to start looking for similar gins. These gins intentionally downplay juniper in favour of other botanicals, creating a softer, more balanced, and often more aromatic spirit.
Defining Characteristics: New Western Dry gins typically feature a wider range of botanicals than London Dry gins. They often highlight citrus, floral, or spice notes, creating unique and complex flavour profiles. The juniper is still present, but it’s not the star of the show.
Examples of New Western Dry Gins: Many distilleries have embraced this style, resulting in a diverse range of gins that offer similar characteristics to Aviation. Some notable examples include:
- St. George Botanivore Gin: This gin boasts a complex botanical blend, including coriander, bay laurel, and various citrus peels. It’s a bolder choice than Aviation, but shares the same philosophy of botanical diversity.
- Hendrick’s Gin: Perhaps one of the most well-known New Western Dry gins, Hendrick’s is infused with rose and cucumber, giving it a distinctly floral and refreshing character. While the cucumber is a dominant flavor, the underlying juniper is still present, though less assertive than in a London Dry.
- The Botanist Islay Dry Gin: This gin is crafted with 22 foraged Islay botanicals, resulting in a complex and aromatic spirit with floral and herbal notes. It has a unique terroir-driven character that sets it apart.
- Roku Gin: A Japanese gin featuring six unique Japanese botanicals, including sakura flower, sakura leaf, yuzu peel, sencha tea, gyokuro tea, and sansho pepper. It offers a balance of floral, citrus, and spicy notes.
Comparing Flavors and Profiles: While each of these gins has its own unique character, they all share a common thread: a less juniper-forward profile and a focus on other botanicals. Exploring these gins allows you to appreciate the diversity of the New Western Dry style and find your own personal favorites.
Floral-Forward Gins: Aromatic Alternatives
If you particularly enjoy the floral notes in Aviation Gin, exploring other floral-forward gins might be a good option. These gins emphasize botanicals like lavender, rose, or elderflower, creating a fragrant and delicate spirit.
Floral Botanical Highlights: Look for gins that explicitly mention floral botanicals in their description. Common floral notes include lavender, rose, chamomile, elderflower, and hibiscus. These botanicals can add a subtle sweetness and a captivating aroma to the gin.
Recommended Floral Gins: Consider these options:
- Empress 1908 Gin: Infused with butterfly pea blossom, this gin has a distinctive indigo hue that changes to pink when mixed with citrus. The floral notes are prominent, creating a visually stunning and flavorful drink.
- Brooklyn Gin: Made with fresh citrus peels and hand-cracked juniper, Brooklyn Gin is bright and citrusy with a gentle floral background.
- Few American Gin: A slightly spicy gin, it includes juniper, but also a hefty dose of vanilla and citrus, lending a sweeter profile.
Matching Floral Preferences: When choosing a floral gin, consider your preferred floral notes. Do you prefer the subtle sweetness of elderflower or the calming aroma of lavender? Experimenting with different floral gins will help you discover your favourite.
Citrus-Driven Gins: Bright and Refreshing
If you appreciate the citrus notes in Aviation Gin, consider exploring gins that emphasize citrus botanicals. These gins offer a bright and refreshing flavor that is perfect for cocktails or sipping on a warm day.
Citrus Botanical Varieties: Citrus botanicals used in gin include lemon peel, orange peel (sweet and bitter), grapefruit peel, and lime peel. These botanicals contribute different levels of acidity, sweetness, and bitterness, creating a wide range of citrus-driven gin profiles.
Citrus Gin Recommendations: Consider these options:
- Tanqueray No. Ten: This gin is made with fresh whole citrus fruits, including grapefruit, lime, and orange. It has a bright and zesty flavour that is perfect for martinis and other cocktails.
- Beefeater 24: Infused with grapefruit peel and Japanese sencha tea, Beefeater 24 offers a complex and refreshing citrus flavour.
- Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle Gin: Distilled with lemon verbena, lemon peel, and vapor-infused with lemon leaves, this gin offers a bright citrus experience.
Balancing Citrus Flavors: When choosing a citrus gin, consider the balance of citrus flavors. Do you prefer a gin that is predominantly lemon, orange, or grapefruit? Explore different citrus gins to find one that suits your palate.
Spice-Forward Gins: Adding Warmth and Complexity
For those who enjoy the subtle spice notes in Aviation Gin, exploring gins that emphasize spice botanicals can be a rewarding experience. These gins offer warmth and complexity, adding depth to cocktails and neat sips.
Exploring Spice Botanicals: Common spice botanicals used in gin include cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, and peppercorns. These botanicals add warmth, complexity, and a subtle kick to the gin.
Recommended Spice Gins: Consider these options:
- Opihr Oriental Spiced Gin: Infused with botanicals from along the ancient spice route, Opihr offers a bold and exotic flavour profile with notes of cardamom, coriander, and cubeb pepper.
- Ungava Canadian Premium Gin: A unique gin from Canada, infused with six rare arctic botanicals, including Nordic juniper, crowberry, and Labrador tea. It offers a complex and slightly spicy flavour.
- Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin: This gin is infused with gunpowder tea, a slow-dried green tea that adds a distinctive flavour. It also contains various other botanicals, including juniper, coriander, cardamom, and citrus.
Matching Spice Preferences: When choosing a spice gin, consider your preferred spice notes. Do you prefer the warmth of cardamom, the earthiness of coriander, or the heat of peppercorns? Experiment with different spice gins to find one that satisfies your spice cravings.
Considering the Base Spirit and Distillation Methods
Beyond the botanicals, the base spirit and distillation methods also play a crucial role in the final flavour of the gin.
Base Spirit Influence: The base spirit is the neutral alcohol that is infused with botanicals to create gin. Common base spirits include grain-based spirits (wheat, rye, or corn) and grape-based spirits. Grain-based spirits tend to have a cleaner and more neutral flavour, while grape-based spirits can add a subtle sweetness and fruitiness.
Distillation Techniques: Different distillation techniques can also affect the flavour of the gin. Pot distillation tends to produce a more flavourful and complex gin, while column distillation tends to produce a cleaner and more neutral gin. Vapor infusion, where botanicals are suspended in a basket above the spirit, can result in a lighter, more aromatic gin.
How These Factors Affect the Final Product: The base spirit and distillation method can influence the overall flavour profile of the gin. For example, a gin made with a grape-based spirit and pot distillation might have a richer and more complex flavour than a gin made with a grain-based spirit and column distillation.
Experimenting with Cocktails and Pairings
The best way to find a gin that is similar to Aviation Gin is to experiment with different cocktails and pairings.
Classic Gin Cocktails: Try using different gins in classic gin cocktails like the Gin & Tonic, Martini, Negroni, and Aviation. This will allow you to compare the flavours of different gins side-by-side and see which ones you prefer.
Food Pairings: Gin can also be paired with food. Try pairing different gins with appetizers, entrees, and desserts to see which combinations work best.
Developing Your Palate: Tasting different gins and experimenting with cocktails and pairings will help you develop your palate and better understand your gin preferences.
In conclusion, finding a gin similar to Aviation is about understanding what aspects of its flavor profile appeal to you most. Whether you prefer a less juniper-forward New Western Dry style, a floral-forward gin, a citrus-driven gin, or a spice-forward gin, there are many options to explore. Consider the base spirit, distillation methods, and experiment with cocktails and pairings to discover your own personal favorites. The world of gin is vast and varied, so enjoy the journey of discovery!
What defines the “New Western Dry” gin style, and how does it differ from London Dry?
The New Western Dry gin style is characterized by a lighter juniper presence compared to the traditional London Dry style. Instead of juniper dominating the flavor profile, New Western gins emphasize other botanicals such as citrus, floral notes, or even cucumber, creating a more balanced and approachable taste. This makes them particularly appealing to individuals who may find London Dry gins too piney or assertive.
London Dry gin, on the other hand, adheres to a stricter definition where juniper is the predominant flavor. While other botanicals are still used, they primarily serve to complement the juniper, rather than competing with it. The end result is a gin with a pronounced juniper character, often considered the classic and traditional gin style.
Besides Aviation Gin, what are some other popular examples of New Western Dry gins?
Several excellent New Western Dry gins exemplify this style beyond Aviation. Hendrick’s Gin is a prime example, famously using cucumber and rose petals to create a distinctly floral and refreshing flavor. St. George Terroir Gin is another notable example, focusing on capturing the essence of the California landscape through botanicals like Douglas fir and bay laurel.
Other gins that fit this category include The Botanist, which uses a wide array of foraged botanicals from the Isle of Islay, and Bluecoat American Dry Gin, known for its citrus-forward profile. These gins share the common thread of de-emphasizing juniper in favor of highlighting a wider spectrum of botanical flavors, creating a more diverse and accessible range of gins.
What kind of cocktails are best suited for New Western Dry gins like Aviation?
New Western Dry gins, with their balanced and often citrus-forward profiles, are exceptionally versatile in cocktails. Their gentler juniper character allows the other ingredients in a cocktail to shine, making them ideal for drinks where botanical nuances are desired. They work particularly well in cocktails that highlight fresh fruits, herbs, or floral liqueurs.
Consider using them in classics like a French 75 or a Bee’s Knees, where the subtle botanicals complement the champagne or honey. They are also excellent in modern cocktails that showcase unique ingredients, allowing for greater creativity and flavor exploration. Because they aren’t overly assertive, New Western Dry gins offer a smooth and approachable drinking experience in a wide variety of mixed drinks.
How does Aviation Gin compare to other New Western Dry gins in terms of its specific botanical profile?
Aviation Gin stands out due to its specific botanical blend, which includes juniper (though less prominent than in London Dry gins), cardamom, coriander, French lavender, anise, and dried sweet orange peel. This combination creates a balanced flavor profile with floral, spicy, and citrus notes, making it uniquely recognizable. The lavender and cardamom contribute to its smoothness and subtle complexity.
Other New Western Dry gins often utilize different botanical combinations to achieve their desired flavor profiles. For example, Hendrick’s incorporates rose and cucumber, while St. George Terroir Gin focuses on local Californian botanicals. The key difference lies in the specific botanicals used and the proportions in which they are blended, resulting in a wide array of flavor profiles within the New Western Dry category.
What makes Aviation Gin approachable for those who typically don’t enjoy gin?
Aviation Gin’s lower juniper presence is a major factor in its appeal to those who traditionally dislike gin. The pronounced juniper flavor in London Dry gins can be off-putting to some, leading them to perceive gin as overly piney or medicinal. Aviation’s balanced botanical profile, with its focus on citrus, floral, and spicy notes, offers a more palatable and inviting experience.
This approachable flavor profile allows new gin drinkers to explore the spirit without being overwhelmed by the intense juniper characteristic often associated with traditional gin. The smoothness and complexity of Aviation, stemming from its carefully selected botanicals, make it an excellent entry point into the world of gin, potentially converting skeptics into gin enthusiasts.
Are New Western Dry gins like Aviation typically more expensive than London Dry gins?
The price of New Western Dry gins, including Aviation, can vary depending on several factors, including the quality of ingredients, distillation process, and brand recognition. Generally speaking, they are often positioned in a similar price range to premium London Dry gins. However, the perceived value can differ based on individual taste preferences and brand loyalty.
Some New Western Dry gins may utilize more rare or labor-intensive botanicals, potentially leading to a higher production cost and, subsequently, a higher price point for the consumer. Conversely, some London Dry gins, particularly those with established reputations and extensive marketing, may command a premium price despite potentially simpler botanical compositions. It’s best to compare specific bottles to determine the price differential.
Where can I find information on the specific botanical recipes of different gins, including Aviation and its competitors?
Finding detailed information about the specific botanical recipes of gins can be challenging, as many distilleries consider this information proprietary. However, some distilleries provide general lists of the botanicals used in their gins on their websites or product packaging. Review sites and gin enthusiast communities are often helpful sources of information.
Online resources like specialized gin websites, blogs, and databases may also offer insights into the flavor profiles and potential botanical compositions of different gins. While exact recipes are often guarded secrets, these resources can provide clues about the dominant flavors and likely ingredients, helping you to compare and contrast different gins in the New Western Dry style and beyond.