209 Gin - 70cl - 46% ABV

The No. 209 story begins in 1880, when William Scheffler bought the Edge Hill Estate in St. Helena which was at the time one of the most impressive wineries in the Napa Valley. A distiller at heart, Scheffler added a stone and brick distillery to the wine making facilities at Edge Hill in 1882 and registered the distillery with the Federal Government. The license number, 209, was granted which Scheffler proudly painted above the front door of his new distillery building. The spirits he produced were reputedly of very high quality and won numerous awards, including a medal at the Universal Exposition of 1889 in Paris, France.

On the nose, spicy citrus notes come to the fore with a mellow juniper and slightly floral backdrop. Overall, the flavour of No. 209 is citrus forward, but not overbearing – although the bergamot orange clearly plays a large part in the ensemble. The warmth from coriander and cassia anchor the gin, while the cardamom imparts its very distinct taste. The juniper notes are much more subtle compared with the sometimes resinous feel of some classic London Dry’s. Overall, No. 209 Gin feels like a modern interpretation of a classic gin done with an American twist. We suggest using a slice of pink grapefruit (not squeezed) as the choice of garnish when serving a G&T.