Dry Fly Gin and Tonic is produced by Washington state based Dry Fly Distilling. The base of theirready-to-drink gin and tonic is their Dry Fly Gin.
The gin was unusual at its launch (and still somewhat even in 2020) for featuring apples as a botanical. Washington state is known for its apple production. 42% of apples grown in the US are from there. But other local touches in the gin include juniper sourced from the neighboring state of Oregon. Dry Fly Gin is a celebration of Cascadia agriculture.
Their canned G&T is bottled at 6.7% ABV. The tonic syrup used is from Side Hustle Syrups.
Tasting Notes
As you open the can, there’s a gentle aroma. Wheat, cider apples, and a hint of baking spice.
Sipped, Dry Fly Gin and Tonic is a bold and botanically driven RTD. Green, slightly resinous lavender, intimations of ginger, a bit of piney juniper and hints of orange boldly lead into a late palate burst of green, ponderous citrus. Notes of makrut lime leaf, lemongrass and Persian lime dominate the late palate.
The finish is green and flowery, with both herbal and floral facets.
Dry Fly Gin and Tonic is weighty with botanicals and although you won’t miss the quinine here— it’s a bit more sedate and in the background. It’s only slightly bitter. This is a good canned gin and tonic for people who like less quinine, but don’t mind an astringent citric acid pucker.
In fact that might be its greatest asset. It achieves the mouthfeel of gin and tonic with only a mild bitterness.
Overall
+ Good botanically driven canned gin and tonic
+ The ABV of 6.7% makes it perfect for backyard BBQ’s, you won’t get too far ahead of your friends drinking beer.
+ Less bitter than other gin and tonics, ideal if you want less quinine.
− A Bit light on the juniper
− The botanicals of the tonic syrup used dominate the botanicals from the gin.
Overall, a crushable gin and tonic that will appeal to fans of contemporary style gin.