Flavor Profile
Inspired by the “bright crisp air” on a winter day in the Pacific Northwest, Astraea Mist Gin draws it’s inspiration in contrast to the spring and summer moments of Meadow, Forest and Ocean.
Identical to the other gins in the series, it is distilled in the London Dry tradition— maceration, and then distillation in a single pass.
Astraea Mist Gin shares a lot of its botanicals with the other gins in the series, including the one that I would say is its point of difference, Chamomile (which is also in Meadow).
Tasting notes
Aroma: It does have a “crispness to it,” with icy green juniper and fresh orange zest. Hints of chamomile make themself present, with gentle herbaceous hints of hay.
Flavor: Sipped, there’s juniper at the core. Early, green juniper sits amongst some delicate spice notes. But this is quickly overtaken by the bold citrus note at its center.
Drier notes of coriander, licorice root, fennel seeds and a more herbaceous, side of juniper.
Finish: A delicate cassia and orange oil kissed sweetness comes through at the end. Rich, luscious, and smooth— the finish is on the shorter side, but extremely clean.
Cocktails and suggested serves
Astraea Mist Gin pairs beautifully with vermouth and works well in a Martini, preferably garnished with a twist.
However, beyond that bartenders may find Astraea Mist Gin the most traditional mixing gin in the excellent Astraea Gin lineup. I think it works well in almost any drink. Try it in a Pegu Club Cocktail or Bijou.
As for mixed drinks, I think it works quite well in a gin and tonic, with especially a floral tonic water.
Overall, Astraea Mist Gin
It’s a great accomplishment to do something as difficult as making a gin to the exacting London Dry standards and have it come across as effortless and/or simple. Astraea Mist Gin doesn’t hit you over the head with complexity. Instead it presents a masterfully executed vision.
While all the gins in the series stand out for their execution, Mist is the one that feels the least different from other gins on the market. However, that’s not a knock against it— just some context for how to approach the addition of Astraea’s lineup to your bar program.
In short Astraea Mist Gin is a delightful, if more traditional leaning gin, that will work well in almost every context. Smooth and flavorful, it’s no wonder that the brand’s distiller Danielle Leavell recently received one of the highest honors in the gin community*— induction to The Gin Guild.
Recommended.
*Perhaps there’s a bit of bias there as I’m a member myself.
Awards
