When Death Comes Knocking: Death’s Door Gin Review at The Intoxicologist

When Death Comes Knocking: Death’s Door Gin Review

At long last death came rapping at my door. Luckily it came wrapped in a cardboard box with a label marked Death’s Door Gin rather than skeletal figure in hooded black cloak. That will be soon enough as Halloween approaches. I’ll be certain to stock up on candies to satisfy death’s sweet tooth. In the mean time, Death’s Door Gin settled quite nicely on my palate.

Death’s Door Gin is part of the Classic & Vintage Portfolio of handcrafted, artisanal gem spirits carried through Domaine Select Wine Estates (DSWE). The gin is created from a wheat base with hand harvested juniper berries from open fields and forests of Washington Island and then infused with Wisconsin botanicals. The name of the spirit comes from Death’s Door Passage, the treacherous strait between Green Bay and Lake Michigan that has claimed many lives and sailing vessels.

Gin ranks high on the list of popular spirits among bartenders and is one of the more common spirits found in classic cocktails. The spirit is trendy, yet traditional. It breaks new ground as more and more distillers play with formulations to round out the sharp juniper tones making gin more consumer friendly. No longer brassy, metallic or perfumed; gin has become playful, floral and buttery. The slate has been wiped clean with so many innovative artisanal distillers entering the playing field, bartenders stepping up to the plate with original cocktail creation and the revitalization of classic cocktail recipes. Preconceived notions of gin are no longer valid with the vast array of new era gin on the market.

Death’s Door Gin contains distinct buttery tones in the aroma with an apparent thickness to the spirit. There is crisp cleanness to it without obnoxious sharp notes. Botanicals meld together nicely. The same buttery sense continues through in the flavor. It brings roundness to the spirit providing smooth finish. Juniper is light, but noticeable. When sampled in a straight up martini with Noilly Prat washing the glass and lemon twist garnish, the gin rounded out even more with the buttery flavor. Death’s Door Gin seems softer to the touch in juniper and botanical feel. This is not a sharp edged gin making it an excellent pair for those new to gin or who prefer a lighter touch than those gins associated with what our mothers and fathers consumed back in the day.

Hint of Melon – created by The Intoxicologist

5 Fresh Cantaloupe Cubes

1-1/2 ounce Death’s Door Gin

1 ounce Hint Cucumber Water – chilled

Skewered Cantaloupe Cubes Garnish

Muddle cantaloupe cubes with gin in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add ice. Shake to chill. Strain into a martini glass. Add one ounce Hint Cucumber Water. Garnish with skewered cantaloupe cubes.

Hint of Melon makes a light and refreshing cocktail without adding extra sugar. Cucumber water softens both gin and cantaloupe while stretching the cocktail for long lasting pleasure.

Blue Death – created by The Intoxicologist

10 Fresh Blueberries

1-1/2 ounce Death’s Door Gin

1/2 ounce Naked Cherry Pomegranate Power

1/4 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice

1-1/2 ounce Canada Dry Ginger Ale

Skewered Blueberries Garnish

Muddle blueberries with gin in bottom of mixing glass. Add Naked Cherry juice, lemon juice and ice. Shake to blend. Strain into a wine glass over fresh ice. Top with 1-1/2 ounce Ginger Ale. Garnish with skewered blueberries.

Nice and fruity without being too sweet! Gin notes still sing softly in the background. Only a fraction of mild muddling going on in this cocktail, so it is relatively easy to build and beautiful too.

Classic Cocktails

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