Leopold's American Small Batch Gin

Leopold's American Small Batch Gin is distilled in Colorado and bottled at 40% ABV. The producer's approach is to distill each botanical individually and then blend the results, instead of macerating everything together in one pot. That gives the distillers control over how much of each ingredient reaches the final gin. The reference profile is citrus-forward: pomelo and orange peel sit alongside juniper, and the finish is soft and balanced. Expect juniper to be present but not dominant. It is closer to the contemporary, citrus-led side of gin than to a pine-heavy London dry. In the glass, expect the grapefruit-like brightness of pomelo and the rounder sweetness of orange peel to show up first, with juniper and a gentle spice underneath. Gins built this way usually taste fresh and clean when sipped neat or over ice, and they tend not to have a hot, resinous bite. That profile makes it well suited to a Gin & Tonic. Pour 2 ounces over plenty of cold, solid ice in a balloon glass, top with about 4 ounces of a tonic that isn't too sweet, and garnish with a wide strip of grapefruit or orange peel. Twist the peel over the drink first so its oils land on the surface and reinforce the citrus already in the gin. A Tom Collins also works well. Shake 2 ounces of gin with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, strain over ice into a highball, and top with soda water. The lemon and the gin's orange and pomelo notes should combine into a lively, rounded drink. For stirred drinks, a Martini built at about 2.5 parts gin to 1 part dry vermouth and finished with a lemon twist should keep the citrus in front. A Negroni with equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth will be a little brighter and less piney than one made with a traditional juniper-heavy gin, and an orange peel is the natural garnish. Keep the bottle in the freezer if you mostly make Martinis. At 40% ABV it will chill thoroughly and stay pourable.