Dillon’s Small Batch Gin is a remarkable product that reflects the growing craft distilling trend and showcases the rise of premium, artisanal spirits. Distilled in Beamsville, Ontario, Canada, this gin has garnered a loyal following for its commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and locally sourced ingredients.
Visit
Visiting Dillon’s Distillery is a fantastic experience! Dillon’s is a family-owned craft distillery known for its high-quality, small-batch spirit.
Upon arrival, you’re greeted with the rich aroma of botanicals and grain, and the friendly staff starts with the distillery’s history.
Origin and Philosophy
Dillon’s Distillers, the maker of Dillon’s Small Batch Gin, was founded by Geoff Dillon in 2012. From the outset, the philosophy behind Dillon’s has been simple yet powerful: to create high-quality spirits using traditional distilling methods, combined with a modern understanding of flavors and techniques. This philosophy is evident in their gin production, which focuses on small-batch distillation and hand-crafted processes, allowing for meticulous attention to detail in every bottle.
One of the key aspects of Dillon’s Small Batch Gin is its commitment to local and organic ingredients. This gin is made using a base spirit derived from locally grown Niagara grapes, which gives it a unique, slightly sweeter profile compared to gins that use a neutral grain spirit. Additionally, the botanicals used in the distillation process are carefully selected, focusing on fresh, natural flavors that reflect the region’s terroir.
Dillon’s offers guided tours, walking you through each step of their spirit-making process. You’ll see the copper stills up close, the grain milling, the fermentation tanks, and the oak barrels used for aging. Each stage has a distinct vibe, and the tour guide explains how the ingredients and the process come together to create the brand’s unique products, like their famous rye whisky, gin, and bitters.
Botanicals and Flavor Profile of Dillon’s Small Batch Gin
Dillon’s Small Batch Gin features a carefully curated selection of botanicals that give it a distinct and refreshing character. The gin’s primary botanical is juniper, which remains the cornerstone of most traditional gin recipes. However, Dillon’s gin differentiates itself with the addition of locally sourced botanicals such as lavender, coriander, and angelica root, alongside hints of citrus. These ingredients work in harmony to create a well-balanced gin with a fresh, floral aroma and a complex yet smooth flavor profile.
Production Process
Dillon’s Small Batch Gin is made using a copper pot still, which plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and consistency of each batch. The distillation process is slow and deliberate, allowing the distillers to carefully monitor the botanical flavor extraction. The use of copper still also helps to remove impurities from the spirit, resulting in a cleaner, smoother gin.
What sets Dillon’s apart is their dedication to producing their gin in small batches, typically no more than 300 bottles per batch. This allows for greater control over the final product, ensuring that each batch meets their high standards of quality. Furthermore, the small-batch production process allows Dillon’s to experiment with different botanicals and flavor profiles, resulting in limited-edition releases that often highlight specific seasonal ingredients or unique blends.
Versatility and Popularity
Dillon’s Small Batch Gin has become a favorite among gin enthusiasts and mixologists alike, thanks to its versatility and approachable flavor profile. Whether enjoyed in a classic gin and tonic, a martini, or in more adventurous cocktails, Dillon’s gin consistently delivers a refreshing and nuanced drinking experience.
The brand’s focus on quality and craftsmanship has also earned it numerous accolades within the spirits industry. Dillon’s Small Batch Gin has received praise for its ability to balance traditional gin characteristics with innovative, contemporary flavors, making it a standout product in the crowded craft gin market.
Dillon’s Dry Gin 7: This is their flagship gin, made using seven botanicals, including juniper berries, citrus, and traditional gin spices. It has a balanced, classic gin profile. This classic gin is made from a base of 100% Ontario rye grain. Crisp, juniper-forward, with citrus and spice notes.
Dillon’s Unfiltered Gin 22: A more complex gin, made with 22 botanicals. It’s unfiltered, which gives it a slightly cloudy appearance and a fuller flavor. This original Western-style gin is made from a base of 100% local wine grapes. A more complex gin with deeper botanical layers.
Dillon’s Rose Gin: A gin infused with rose petals, giving it a floral aroma and a light pink hue. It is sweetened with cane sugar and hence is a popular choice for more delicate cocktails. Delicate and floral, with subtle rose petal aromas and flavors.
Dillon’s Small Batch Gin Cocktail Variety Pack
The cocktail bar is where the visit truly comes to life.
Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers offers a variety of cocktails crafted from their gins, showcasing the unique flavors of their spirits. Dillon’s cocktails highlight the versatility of their gins, with options ranging from floral and fruity to more classic, spirit-forward dried.
After tasting the gin, we are excited to taste the Dillon’s Small Batch Gin Cocktail Variety Pack.
