H.O.B.S. Gin

Harbor of Broken Souls...hands down my favorite craft gin bar none. Made locally in Healdsburg by a husband/wife team, I feel in love with this expression while visiting their small distillery to see how the sausage is made...which is with juniper, lemon peel, coriander, lavender, hibiscus, bay leaf, angelica root, cardamom to name a few. The nose has a nice hint of citrus pine and the taste is slightly peppery with floral accents. And its so damn versital, from Bees Knees to a Last Word, it has range...it seems to especially be pals with Chartreuse so give it a go in the Fleet Street cocktail. And finally, there's no better artwork in spirits than the H.O.B.S....I keep asking them to pls put out some merch!

Like drinking water from a stream in a pine forest. It seems odd to be comparing gin to water, but that's what comes to mind for me. Perhaps it's the power of suggestion from the name and label. In fact, from the description on the label I was expecting something big and briny. But that's not what I experienced. Smooth and slightly thick texture with a clean, fresh, slightly sweet taste. What I imagine drinking water from a Great Lake would be like, although I've never done that. No one thing seems to dominate. There are the hints of the expected standard gin flavors (juniper, etc.), but also hints of pine, citrus, and mineral. Complex and well rounded. Makes a good martini, gimlet, or gin and tonic. Lovely gin. I will be buying more, which is my highest recommendation.