Wolf Spirit has launched Mr. Pickles Pacific Northwest Gin. Named after Master Distiller Ben Green’s pit bull rescue pup, it is an international style gin that reflects the personality of the distillery’s mascot and Oregon’s mountains, says the brand.
Distilled to a driving heavy metal beat, Mr. Pickles is born from 100% soft, white winter wheat, mono-sourced just down the road at the Camas Country Mill. The soft base spirit is triple distilled with the final distillation including a vapor basket to introduce the botanicals. It leads with the juniper notes, which are softened by 11 other botanicals, including sencha green tea, pink peppercorns, and marshmallow root, revealing an approachable, aromatic, and sweet spirit reminiscent of Cascade Mountains meadows.
“We created this gin to honor Mr. Pickles for his loyalty, friendship, and undying love for everyone at Wolf Spirit,” said Wolf Spirit Master Distiller Ben Green. “Mr. Pickles may appear intimidating, but he is truly a warm, welcoming spirit filled with unbridled joy and I think we have done a great job in capturing that in our first gin.”
Mr. Pickles Gin opens with juicy citrus and sweet, bright herbal notes, with a slight undernote of black pepper. Soft woodland notes accompany the more traditional, aromatic pine and spice, grounded in an earthy, herbaceous base. The finish is long and smooth, allowing the flavors to continue to reveal themselves long after the gin leaves the palate.
It comes in a blue-green bottle wrapped with an ornate silkscreened design strewn with hand-drawn white and red flowers. Front and center in an elegant gold frame is a stoic illustration of Mr. Pickles.
Signature cocktails include:
Mr. Pickles Martini (Created by Natalie Bovis)
2 ounces Mr. Pickles gin
.75 ounce Ransom dry vermouth
1 bar spoon pickle juice (or to taste)
1 bar spoon olive brine (or to taste)
Garnish: Durant extra virgin olive oil & Oregon Brineworks Garlic Dill Pickles
Stir all ingredients with ice. Strain into Martini glass. Dot surface with 3 – 5 drops of extra virgin olive oil. Garnish with pickle slices on a skewer, or slice and slide onto rim of glass.
Howl At the Moon (Created by Natalie Bovis)
1 ounce Mr. Pickles gin
2 ounces Stumptown Holler Mountain espresso
1 ounce chocolate liqueur
.75 ounce orange liqueur
Garnish: grated orange zest
Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into cocktail coupe. Sprinkle orange zest on surface of drink.
Bottled at 86 proof, Mr. Pickles Pacific Northwest Gin retails for $34.99 per 750ml bottle. For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
