Growing up in the coastal Pacific Northwest, AMASS cofounder Morgan McLachlin was keenly aware of the mushrooms that would explode across our forest floors, one of many triggers that helped foster a deep interest in botany, adaptogens, and a lifelong relationship with plants. Their dry gin is citrus-forward, herbaceous, and balanced, with subtle earthy umami elements. It includes 29 organic botanicals in all, including Reishi and lion's mane mushrooms, cardamom, ginger, fresh grapefruit, bitter orange, and California bay leaf. The new and limited edition Mushroom Reserve 030 bottling builds on their dry gin with an infusion of Shiitake mushrooms, cacao, and bergamot, marrying these rich and complex flavors together over 90 days in charred, new American oak barrels. While the mushroom is subtle, the barrel-aging adds a layer of rich vanilla and oak, accentuating the earthy spice, with the cardamom, ginger, and bergamot taking center stage. Truly a sipping gin, this one is fantastic all on its own. Serve neat, or over ice - in the middle of a meadow, top of a mountain, or amongst the redwoods if possible. Stirred into a Negroni the the cacao and citrus elements leap out, or lean into the spice by shaking it up with some fresh lemon juice and honey syrup.
