The Muff Irish Gin (40% ABV): Also crafted from Irish potatoes and distilled six times, the botanical blend here includes mandarin, juniper berries, citrus peel, elderflower and rosemary, cold-infused overnight in the spirit. A hint of Champagne extract is also added. "I was originally inspired by the flowers of my grandfather's garden..."
"We are always drawn to the forest, to nature," says Caitlin Bartlemay, master distiller at Hood River, Oregon's Clear Creek distillery. "Even though we don't always get to spend time outdoors." This sentiment encapsulates the evolving relationship between nature and the spirits industry, emphasizing how distillers are inspired by the woodland landscapes that may not always be accessible to them.