Colorado’s Mystic Mountain Distillery opened all the way back in 2004 in the small town of Larkspur, Colorado. Colorado Fog Gin is one of the elder statesmen among the state’s craft gins.
Humbly, I first tried it in the early ’10s. Now that I’ve called Colorado home for seven years, I’m trying it again.
Colorado Fog Gin is distilled from a base of grain and prominently features Rocky Mountain water in its recipe.
Tasting notes
We are reviewing Batch #1234
Aroma: Relatively quiet on the nose, Colorado Fog Gin starts with some subtle hints of citrus and piney juniper. It’s botanically sedate.
Flavor: Again, it’s rather quiet. Early, slightly chewy with some hints of licorice root. Juniper is on the mid-palate, at only a low volume. It’s not particularly piney, but instead green and slightly herbaceous. Citrus zest, with a bit of pithiness rounds out the mid-palate.
Late, alongside the citrus there’s some gentle floral/herbal notes with a fair amount of rooty character. It reminds me of mallow root a bit, but there’s a part that is a bit more licorice and coriander as well.
Finish: Mildly warm, but quiet botanically, the finish of Colorado Fog Gin has some notes that suggest a wheat base. It finishes fairly quickly with a touch of bitterness that dries out the palate.
Cocktails and suggested serves
Colorado Fog Gin works well in many mixed drink applications— it pairs perfectly with tonic water, especially flavored ones. Though they can overpower the botanicals which are quiet overall.
In mixed drinks, it’s best as a supporting spirit rather than the star. While it works well in a Clover Club Cocktail or Negroni, it’s less ideal in a Martini where some of its rougher edges might still show through.
Overall, Colorado Fog Gin
Colorado Fog Gin is a solid, affordable option if you’re looking for a local mixing gin. It is a worth a look at its price point; however, some might find it a bit unmemorable. The botanical bill is quiet while the finish is almost vodka like in its subtlety.