Nature shines through the work of the distillers at Still Austin. Fresh, locally sourced ingredients are carefully distilled by hand in small batches to create well-balanced whiskeys and gins that are distinctive in their flavor and bouquet, including their latest creation: The Naturalist American Gin.
The Naturalist is an American gin made from Brasetto rye and white corn grown in Texas. The spirit is produced in 100-gallon batches and infused with 12 botanicals, including coriander, allspice, cinnamon, elderflower, grapefruit, lemon, and orange.
An American gin is less juniper-forward than a London Dry. Indeed, rye is the star of The Naturalist. You immediately smell the rye when tasting the gin, though the white corn gives the gin a sweet smoothness that's pleasant to the palette. The citrus flavors come through at the end, especially the grapefruit.
The Naturalist is a perfect base for classic gin cocktails, such as an Aviation, Bee’s Knees or Negroni. Don’t be surprised, though, if your Negroni tastes closer to a Boulevardier, as the rye and corn remind at least one of us more of whiskey than gin.
Juniper Rating:
We're both partial to The Outdoor Type, a cocktail specially created by Jehudiel Barba that highlights the gin's grapefruit notes. Fresh grapefruit and lime juice bring out the citrus ingredients, and the simple syrup strikes a perfect balance among tartness, sweetness, and herbalness. The end result is a perfect cocktail for Sunday brunch with family or friends.
The Outdoor Type
Ingredients 1.5 oz The Naturalist Still Austin American Gin 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice ½ oz fresh lime juice ¾ oz simple syrup
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain with fine mesh strainer into a coupe and garnish with a wedge of grapefruit.