A GIN-SOAKED JOURNEY

The Sunshine State is making a splash with craft distilleries

- JEFFREY SPEAR

From the PANHANDLE to the peninsula, Florida is home to a large number of craft distilleries, many producing intriguing and undeniably appealing varieties of gin. When you consider that gin is a contrivance that starts with a neutral grain spirit followed by juniper berries and other botanicals, and methods for distillation and infusing flavor vary from one producer to the next, the range of innovative flavor profiles and new drinking experiences that can be found across the state is considerable.

It’s important to note that the formula for gin has been evolving for centuries. Originally produced in the 1600s in the Netherlands and referred to as “genever” (the Dutch word for juniper), this early version was made from a distillation of malt wine with added juniper berries and other botanicals. When introduced to England, the name was shortened to “gin,” distillation processes improved, and the Gin Craze was born.

Once it landed in America, gin became the drink of choice during Prohibition. It was popular with Dorothy Parker and her cadre at the Algonquin Round Table, and when Ian Fleming wrote Casino Royale, his debut spy novel, the martini that James Bond requested included gin. Gin reached its peak in the US during the ’70s, a time when martinis and cocktail parties were all the rage.

Today, with the influx of higher quality, super-premium gins, the only way to truly appreciate them is by tasting—and there’s no better place than Florida.

While Florida tends to be recognized for its warm and sunny climate, sandy beaches, and bucolic waterways, these destinations are also ideally suited for refreshing gin-based cocktails, especially the ever-popular gin and tonic. With aficionados displaying an insatiable appetite for artisanal gins and so many distilleries across the state, now is the time to get to know the impressive volume and variety of gins to be found in Florida.