Aviation American Gin remains the definitive choice for discerning, confident drinkers. Elegantly straightforward, it is crafted to highlight the excellence and distinctiveness of its botanicals. Recognized as the world’s top-rated gin with 97 points from Wine Enthusiast, Aviation American Gin is the preferred base for premium Martinis worldwide.
"While I love the classic gins, like Plymouth, Beefeater, Jensen’s and Sipsmith, I’ve always been been quite partial to Aviation. A smooth ride, as such. Spicy, kind of exotic, with aniseed and liquorice, floral things, with juniper tucked into the back of it. Slick and smooth, orange peel is there, but so silky and quiet, with a sarsaparilla sweetness, so much so that I reckon it’s best neat, or with a couple of ice cubes, there’s an ouzo quality to it, which I like. It’s kind of obvious, and come-hither, yet clean and high quality. There’s no sin in being so overt and friendly. A very good drink a lot of it gin." 92 Points - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, January 2023
At a party in Seattle in 2005, bartender Ryan Magarian was introduced to "summer gin" by a friend from Portland. Struck by the subtlety of gin with less juniper, he recognized it as a movement away from traditional gin. Ryan had a growing interest in classic, pre-Prohibition cocktails, where the spirit is central and never masked, and this gin had the potential to be the perfect complement. He set off for Portland to meet the distiller.
Equally passionate about his craft, Christian Krogstad founded a craft distillery in Portland, Oregon. With a pioneering spirit, Christian had set out to recreate a uniquely American Gin. But American gins disappeared with Prohibition, so no one knew exactly what they tasted like.
Without a precise flight plan, the first bartender/distiller partnership took off. Through repeated trial and experimentation with 7 botanicals, Ryan and Christian finally landed on a democratic blend with juniper in the background. Like all successful partnerships, none is overpowering or masking, but each plays a part in bringing out the best in all. Aviation, a gin created to be so balanced and smooth, it can complement any cocktail or even fly solo.
