Barreled Gin and Rum Releases Proudly Made in Wisconsin by State Line Distillery
When you think of barrel aged spirits you probably think of whiskey with its caramel, vanilla, and oak notes. What you might not know is that many of those same barrel flavors play well with the botanicals found in gin. We love barreled gin because of the maturity provided by the barrel combined with the botanical forward nose not present in whiskey. Aging gin takes those qualities we love about gin and combines them with all of the qualities we love about whiskey: depth and complexity.
Producers have been storing gin in barrels since the 18th and early 19th centuries when oak barrels were used to ship and store the spirit. Aging spirits, especially gin, isn’t a new concept, but rather another example of a happy accident as the result of the current technology available at the time. Fast forward to 2019 and we’re excited to announce we will be releasing a new barreled gin!
State Line Distillery Barreled Gin Release: June 8, 2019!
These days, gin is stored in barrels to add depth, roundness, and additional flavor qualities from the oak — a purposeful attempt to impart even more dimension to a botanical-forward spirit. With a resurgence of classic cocktails and craft distilling, we’re seeing more barrel-aged spirits hit menus across the U.S.
Our barreled gin starts with our State Line Distillery Gin, a sage-forward spirit that provides a savory experience on the palate when compared to a classic London dry. State Line's gin also features juniper (without which gin simply wouldn't be gin), as well as coriander, lemon and orris root. The faint hit of spice that comes from used bourbon barrels have imparted a sweet roundness and touch of wood to our gin profile.
In addition to gin, we are in the process of aging rum! We know what you’re thinking. You’re not into rum. But have you tried a craft, barrel-aged rum produced with grain-to-glass methods in Wisconsin? Our barrel-aged rum is produced using 100% molasses, and two different yeast strains during fermentation. Blending the batches post distillation leads to a more complex spirit. This rum has spent just enough time in used bourbon barrels to give the spirit a light, approachable hue and notes of caramel and molasses that balance nicely with the slight taste of oak and faint nose of bourbon.
State Line Distillery Rum Release: Mid-summer but follow us on Instagram to stay up to date!
How to Drink Barrel-Aged Spirits
Just like whiskey, barreled gin can (and should!) be sipped neat or on the rocks. In addition to neat pours, barreled gin is fantastic in cocktails. The barrel flavors add complexity to classic cocktails like a martini, and allows bartenders to experiment with new combinations of flavors. Try this classic barrel-aged gin martini recipe at home.
Barrel-Aged Gin Martini
1 1/2 oz. State Line Barreled Gin
3/4 oz. Dolin Blanc Vermouth de Chambéry
3 dashes Bittercube Orange Bitters
Stir all ingredients over ice; strain into coupe or martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Try our barreled gin and rum in our cocktail lounge, or locate a bottle in Wisconsin.