Botanicals Used in Conniption Gin

Butterfly pea flower in Conniption Kinship Gin is a botanical marvel, celebrated not for its flavor, but for its captivating visual and interactive qualities. This exquisite flower infuses the gin with a stunning indigo hue, creating an alluring and visually striking spirit. Remarkably, the butterfly pea flower exhibits a unique pH sensitivity; when mixed with citrus or tonic, it triggers a mesmerizing color change from deep blue to vibrant shades of purple and pink, adding an element of enchantment to the cocktail experience.

Notably, despite its vivid coloration, the butterfly pea flower does not impart any floral flavors to Conniption Kinship Gin. This ensures that the gin's flavor profile remains focused on its carefully curated blend of botanicals, while the butterfly pea flower adds an element of visual flair and interactive wonder.

Dried rosemary is carefully selected for its aromatic and flavorful contribution. This botanical, known for its woody, evergreen scent, infuses the gin with a touch of the Mediterranean. The use of dried rosemary brings forth a more concentrated, herbaceous essence compared to its fresh counterpart. The flavor imparted by dried rosemary is robust and savory, with a slight peppery undertone and a whisper of lemon-pine. This adds a distinctive, aromatic warmth to Conniption Gin. The rosemary's piney and slightly minty notes provide a harmonious balance to the gin’s citrus and floral components, creating a multi-layered sensory experience.

Dried Mission figs from California, a distinguished component in Conniption Gin, are integral to its luxurious and rich profile. These figs, renowned for their natural sweetness and complex flavor, undergo a cold distillation process, a method crucial for preserving their delicate nuances. This technique ensures the figs' luscious, fruity notes are impeccably captured, contributing a deep, velvety layer to the gin. The inclusion of these figs imparts a unique mouthfeel to Conniption Gin, one that is sumptuously smooth and full-bodied. The natural sweetness and subtle nuttiness of the dried Mission figs blend harmoniously with the gin's botanicals, adding an exquisite richness that elevates the overall drinking experience.

Fresh orange peel from sweet navel oranges is a key botanical used in Conniption Gin. This choice ingredient adds a delightful burst of sweet citrus to the gin's flavor profile. The peel, rich in essential oils, imparts a bright, sunny essence, infusing the gin with notes of fresh, juicy oranges. This contributes a natural, fruity sweetness, balancing the gin's botanical blend with a vibrant, uplifting zesty charm. The aroma of fresh sweet orange peel is equally captivating. It exudes a warm, inviting citrus fragrance that enhances the gin's bouquet, making it more alluring and approachable. The use of fresh peel, as opposed to dried, ensures a more intense and authentic orange character, adding depth and complexity to the gin.

The lemon peel imparts a crisp, clean citrus note, offering a zesty tang that cuts through with a lively sharpness. This adds a layer of invigorating brightness, perfectly complementing the gin’s botanical blend. The inclusion of fresh lemon peel is crucial for its aromatic contribution as well. It releases a lively, zesty aroma that elevates the gin's scent profile, making it more enticing and approachable. The use of fresh peel ensures a more potent and authentic citrus quality, different from dried or processed forms.

Known for their distinct, slightly nutty flavor with a hint of peppery citrus, caraway seeds infuse the gin with a unique aromatic warmth and depth. This spice, commonly used in European recipes, imparts a comforting, earthy note with a subtle spicy undertone, reminiscent of rye bread. The inclusion of caraway is a homage to the Scandinavian spirit Aquavit, where caraway is a signature ingredient, symbolizing a bridge between classic gin botanicals and traditional Nordic flavors. This integration of caraway in Conniption Gin reflects a fusion of cultural influences, showcasing a commitment to crafting a gin that is both globally inspired and distinct in its flavor profile.

Angelica root plays a dual role as both a flavor enhancer and a natural fixative. In flavor, it introduces an earthy, herbal essence with a nuanced blend of woody and subtly sweet, yet slightly bitter notes, adding a grounding depth to the gin. This botanical's aroma is soothing, contributing a gentle, musky scent that enriches the gin's bouquet.

As a fixative, akin to its role in perfumery, angelica root is vital in prolonging the aroma of the gin. It achieves this by slowing down the evaporation of the gin's aromatic compounds, allowing the intricate scents to linger longer, enhancing the overall sensory experience. This property makes angelica root indispensable in creating a harmonious and enduring bouquet in Conniption Gin, ensuring each botanical's aroma is captured and savored in every sip.

Licorice root imparts a natural sweetness that is more nuanced and less sugary than its candy counterpart. Its flavor is complex, offering a blend of earthiness with subtle smoky notes, which adds a layer of richness. Licorice root is also known for its mild spiciness, providing a gentle, warm undertone without an anise taste. The sweetness of licorice root balances Conniption gin’s botanicals, smoothing out any harshness from other ingredients, and adding a full-bodied mouthfeel. Its aromatic qualities contribute to the gin’s overall sensory experience, adding a hint of herbal warmth to the nose.

Conniption Gin meticulously incorporates dried bitter orange peel, specifically from Seville oranges, also known as Curaçao, Bigarade, and Sour orange. These large pieces of peel, cut while still green, infuse the gin with a complex interplay of flavors. The bitter orange contributes a distinct, robust citrus aroma with a nuanced bitter-sweetness, reminiscent of traditional Belgian Witbier (white beer) that is spiced with this very peel. This addition imparts a bright, zesty edge to Conniption Gin, enhancing its overall profile with a sophisticated and slightly tangy twist. Notably used in bitters and the Nordic mulled wine Glögg, this botanical brings a time-honored, versatile flavor that is both resonant and invigorating, adding a layer of depth that complements the gin’s other botanical notes.

Dried bay leaves are an essential botanical, carefully chosen for their aromatic depth and complex flavor profile. These leaves, once dried, unveil a rich tapestry of scents and tastes — from a subtle hint of floral and sweet spice to an underlying woodsy, slightly minty essence. The inclusion of bay leaf adds a layer of sophistication to the gin, contributing a warm, herbaceous character that complements and enhances the other botanicals. The use of dried bay leaves ensures a more concentrated, nuanced flavor, imbuing Conniption Gin with a unique savory-ness that is both intriguing and balanced.

Conniption Gin thoughtfully incorporates dried honeysuckle flowers, a decision born from the flower's fragility and brief blooming season. Unlike fresh blooms, the dried honeysuckle offers a subtly sweet floral flavor and aroma, without the overpowering perfumy-ness often associated with fresh flowers. This botanical is exclusively cold distilled in the production of Conniption Gin, a technique crucial for preserving its delicate essence. Heat distillation is unsuitable for such a tender botanical, as it would compromise its gentle, sweet floral notes. This meticulous process ensures that Conniption Gin captures the essence of honeysuckle in its most authentic and nuanced state.

Conniption Gin elevates its botanical ensemble with the inclusion of hand-peeled, freshly sliced cucumbers, meticulously prepared before undergoing cold distillation using rotary evaporators. This precise process ensures that the cucumbers' crisp, clean essence is captured in its purest form. The fresh cucumber imparts a refreshing, subtly sweet, and slightly vegetal note to the gin, harmonizing with the other botanicals to create a palate that is both invigorating and smooth. The cucumber's natural coolness adds a unique dimension to Conniption Gin, bringing a gentle, garden-fresh brightness that distinguishes it in the realm of premium gins. This careful integration of cucumber results in a gin experience that is both sophisticated and delightfully refreshing.