LOUISVILLE, Ky.–Copper & Kings American Brandy Co. announced the release of a pair of copper pot-distilled American luxury gins: The History Of Lovers (a rose bouquet-forward pink gin) and The Ninth (a bold, juicy, blood orange gin finished in Destillaré Orange Curaçao barrels).
“We make extraordinary gin, for grown-ups with sophisticated palates,” Copper & Kings founder, Joe Heron, said in a news release. Unlike most all gins, C&K gins are brandy-based spirits made on copper pot-stills, not grain-neutral spirits distilled above 190 proof on column stills. “(W)e look to layer and retain complex flavors and sophisticated aromas, without using artificial flavors or colors. These are authentic, luxury, natural distilled gins.”
According to the release, The History Of Lovers ($35, 750ml) is a 90-proof gin distilled to retain the intense floral aromatics of rose flowers. Crushed whole juniper berries mixed with rose hips, rose water, honey, sweet orange, tangerine, lime and pink grapefruit peels, alongside jasmine and lavender petals, coriander, pink peppercorns and licorice root are macerated in apple brandy low-wine, then redistilled together with vapor distilled rose hips, pink grapefruit peels, and lavender in the gin basket. A flash post-distillation maceration of rose hips, hibiscus tincture and strawberry juice concentrate is added for color and perfume.
C&K master distiller Brandon O’Daniel described the gin as “smooth, balanced and refreshing with beautifully integrated rose bouquet and zesty, crisp gin botanicals. It’s as delicious as it is attractive to the eye. Technically it was very challenging–we almost became perfumers in the process.”
The Ninth ($35, 750ml), a self-described symphony in orange, is a 90-proof juicy blood orange distilled gin. The name is a sly nod to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, music from the famed Stanley Kubrick film, “A Clockwork Orange.”
Double distilled crushed whole juniper berries together with orange blossom honey and Seville bitter orange peels, sweet orange and grapefruit peels, coriander, cardamom, and grains of paradise are macerated in apple brandy low-wine, then redistilled together with vapor distilled Seville blood orange peels, sweet orange peels and jasmine in the gin basket. They are then finished in C&K Destillaré Intense Orange Curaçao barrels for added complexity and depth.
“We wanted something unique, transportive and fabled, a Mediterranean beach in a bottle,” O’Daniel said. “It’s a bold, sun soaked warm orange gin. Juicy, orange flesh, marmalade, crisp and not sweet with a touch of tart. Hints of exotic spice. It’s extra smooth from the honey and barrel polish, with accessible balance. Rich, lightly creamy and viscous.”
The gins are recommended for refreshing gin & tonics, fresh, crisp spritzers, unique Negronis, and delicious cocktail smashes. Both are available across Copper & Kings national distribution footprint and at its Butchertown distillery.
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