Voyager Gin and the Gin-Gin Mule

Stevi June 05, 2009 Gin, Local, Reviews 9 Comments

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I’m ready to become a locavore — at least when it comes to gin. That’s because I am lucky enough to live less than a 10 mile drive from Pacific Distillery, producers of the delightful Voyager Gin.

Gin-Gin Mule

Gin-Gin Mule

Voyager is a single-batch gin that is distilled from 100% neutral grain spirits using a 500 liter copper alembic still. In addition to juniper, Voyager’s botanicals are coriander, licorice root, cardamom, aniseed, lemon, orange, orris, angelica, and cassia. After the botanicals are added to the spirits and distilled, the gin is brought to 84 proof (42% ABV) and bottled.

Pacific is a small, new distillery, and everybody pitches in on bottling day.

Marc Bernhard has put a lot of love into this product, and it shows. On the nose, the citrus and juniper dominates. Straight, there is some hotness from the slightly higher proof, but also a luxurious richness from the base spirits. This is a fairly citrus forward gin, perhaps most similar to Beefeater 24, but I find Voyager more balanced between the citrus and the juniper.

I’ve yet to find a gin drink I don’t like using Voyager. It makes a delightful gin and tonic. It’s great in a martini and even better in a martinez.

I’m not the only one in love with Voyager, either. Robert Hess has featured is on the Small Screen Network in a drink he created called the Clipper Ship.1

Several great Seattle Metro bars are also using Voyager frequently, including Zig Zag. Last time I asked Murray for bartender’s choice, something with gin, he made me an Alaska Cocktail using Voyager, and it was fantastic.

But we’ve been having something of a heatwave here in Redmond, and a friend gave me a new bunch of mint from his garden, so I thought I’d go with something refreshing. The gin-gin mule, created by Audrey Saunders, is a great drink.

Gin-Gin Mule

2 oz gin (Voyager gin)
0.75 oz lime juice
0.25 oz rich simple syrup (2:1)
8 mint leaves
ginger beer
mint sprig for garnish

Shake gin, lime juice, simple syrup and mint leaves. Strain into ice-filled collins glass and top with ginger beer. Garnish with slapped mint. Sip on a sultry evening.

Voyager Gin is available in many Washington State Liquor Control Board stores. If yours does not have any, be sure to ask them to stock it. Voyager is also being carried by DrinkUpNY, which may be able to ship to your state.

[1] He had already created a cocktail called the Voyager, so he named this one after the ship on the gin’s label.

Related posts:

  1. Sobieski Vodka and the Mazowse Mule
  2. Right Gin and the Zummy Cocktail
  3. Port of Barcelona Gin
  4. Martin Miller’s Gin
  5. Pacific Distillery Dinner at Prohibition Grille

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9 Responses to “Voyager Gin and the Gin-Gin Mule”

  1. japhy said:

    Jun 06, 09 at 12:45 pm

    something i love to drink that’s similar is 2 parts gin, 1 part fresh lime juice. 0.75 parts simple syrup and a few dashes bitters. shake and serve up in a martini glass.

    i’m excited to try your recipe. i love gin…

  2. Steve Williams said:

    Jun 08, 09 at 12:29 pm

    Howdy! This sounds delicious- I’ll be sure to pick up some ginger beer soon! See you in NOLA(?)

  3. Stevi said:

    Jun 08, 09 at 1:21 pm

    Steve,
    Let me know how you like it. And yes, definitely will see you at Tales!

  4. Pacific Distillery Dinner at Prohibition Grille | Two At The Most said:

    Jun 12, 09 at 11:40 am

    [...] the Seattle Metro area? Looking for a chance to try some great cocktails featuring Voyager Gin and Pacifique Absinthe? Want to eat some great gourmet Southern cuisine? Want to meet Chef Rocky of [...]

  5. Krista M said:

    Jun 12, 09 at 12:11 pm

    I couldn’t find Voyager gin so I tried this with Bombay and it was delicious! I think I’ve found my 2009 Summer drink!

  6. Noelle said:

    Jun 24, 09 at 4:06 pm

    Damn you, you made me just want my Voyager bottle. It’s at home, though.

    I’m so glad that someone else is blogging about Voyager gin. It’s DELICIOUS.

  7. NOT Blogging Tales: The Gin Gin Mule | The Pegu Blog said:

    Jul 12, 09 at 5:41 am

    [...] be remiss if I didn’t do one of these posts on a drink by Stevi, at Two at the Most. Stevi offers up the Gin Gin Mule, a delicious creation of Audrey Saunders. Audrey is the [...]

  8. Sylvia said:

    Jan 02, 10 at 7:36 pm

    I love it when distilleries are new and they have a day where it’s open to the public to help bottle.. so cool! You learn so much, I did that a while back and loved it. I love this recipe too.. I’ve tried it with Bombay (I’m not lucky to live close to the Voyager distillery) and it’s ok. I’m sure yours is way better! :)
    -Sylvia

  9. MxMo XLVI: Absinthe — The Atlantic | Two At The Most said:

    Feb 22, 10 at 9:06 pm

    [...] the absinthe play in the background with hints of anise. I chose to use Pacific Distillery’s Voyager gin and Pacifique absinthe, which naturally pair well together, as the gin uses many of the same [...]

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