gin no. 002 – Short Path Gin

The house gin of The Juniper Society is Short Path Distillery’s signature gin. It is an amazing, versatile modern gin that is enjoyable with tonic as it is in a negroni. For that reason, and of course because it is local, we love it!

Short Path Distillery actually makes seven different styles of gin. In addition to this one, they have an Old Tom, a London Dry, and one for each of the seasons. My favorite of them all is actually their Winter Gin which is dominated by rosemary and makes a beautiful gin and tonic, but it’s not an every-day gin. That’s where the flagship gin shines. It has enough flavor to be interesting but is balanced enough to make your favorite gin cocktail, no matter what that cocktail might be.

Short Path Distillery is located in Everett, MA just a little north of Boston. In addition to gin, they make whiskey, rum, and a variety of more creative spirits. I’m a huge fan of their barrel-aged triple sec. The distillery itself is worth a visit and I have been there many times. It’s industrial with exposed brick and a nice view of the copper pot stills used to make their spirits. Outside is a patio where food truck occasionally show up and provide snacks to go with the cocktails.

Short Path Gin (gin no. 002) is distilled in copper and infused with organic juniper, coriander, lavender, eucalyptus, and lemongrass. I tried it for the first time at Kirkland Tap and Trotter in March of 2018 and got my first bottle of it at the distillery (bottle 21 / batch 67) a few weeks after that. I’ve gone through a number of batches and bottles since, and although they no longer number each bottle, the quality has remained consistently good throughout.

What I like best about this gin is its balance. No single flavor is dominant, and the lavender and eucalyptus bring floral and citrus notes respectively. The ABV is on the lower side, 86 proof, making it easy drinking. In addition to making a perfect gin and tonic, (using one part gin to two parts tonic) it also works wonderfully in a collins, a gimlet, or a bee’s knees. While it is easily available in the Boston area, it’s truly local, and you won’t find it outside of New England. If you are in the area, I recommend you stock your bar with Short Path Gin, but if you live out of town and can only fit one bottle in your suitcase, go with the Short Path Winter Gin. Either way, you are going to be happy!

One final fun fact, Short Path adorns each spirit bottle with a sketch of a bird. Their signature gin bottle features a northern shrike. They also sell barware featuring the different bird sketches. Being from St. Louis, I drink my Short Path Gin and tonic out of cardinal glass!

If you’ve tried this gin or any thing else from Short Path Distillery, please let us know in the comments! If you have gin recommendations, please pass them along as well. Cheers!