North Coast's Painted Lady gin is named after some garishly painted Victorian homes in Astoria, where it was made, but you could forgive us if we thought it is a reference to heavy perfume. This is a deeply floral concoction, with the subdued juniper and chemistry-set's worth of botanicals that have become the hallmark of American dry gins. In this case, lavender takes front and center, but at 90 proof there's a bit of heat in the back. It's a little hot for treating as a sipping liquor and a little too flowery to mix well with a decent vermouth. But its rose-and-lavender bouquet opens beautifully as part of a gin and tonic, with a well-rounded sweetness across the palate. Consider it for breezy summers on the patio, with the salt air on your cheeks.
WWeek 2015