Woodacre Gin is made in Berkeley, California, by Woodacre Spirits, a project born from the partnership between Covenant Wines and Hajdu Wines. Bottled at 46% ABV, it translates the landscape of Northern California into a compact botanical recipe built around juniper, fresh Douglas fir tips and California sagebrush. The choice of local plants gives the gin a clear regional identity without abandoning the dry, pine-led structure that defines the category.

Juniper and Douglas fir work in close succession. The juniper brings the familiar scent of crushed berries, pine and clean resin; the fir tips add a fresher, greener conifer note with a sense of young needles rather than heavy wood. California sagebrush broadens the profile with dry herbs and a gently earthy, aromatic quality. With only a few highlighted botanicals, the recipe depends on clarity and proportion, allowing each plant to remain easy to recognise.

The nose opens on bright conifer and fresh green herbs, with juniper providing immediate definition. On the palate, the 46% strength gives the gin a firm texture and enough weight to carry the essential oils of the fir and sagebrush. Pine leads the attack, then the herbal middle becomes drier and slightly more savoury. The finish returns to juniper with a lingering woodland freshness, but avoids the heaviness or sweetness that can make intensely botanical gins tiring.

Woodacre Gin suits a restrained gin and tonic. Pour 5 cl over plenty of clear ice, add around 10 cl of Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water and finish with a narrow lemon peel. The neutral tonic preserves the Californian botanicals, while lemon gives the fir a brighter edge without masking the sagebrush. The gin can also be served in a dry Martini, where its 46% strength and coniferous structure remain clear after stirring and dilution. In either format, a simple garnish is preferable to a crowded glass. Woodacre Gin belongs to the Australian gin landscape through its connection with Woodacre Spirits. At 46% ABV, its character is shaped by the ingredients named for this exact bottle rather than by a vague regional profile. California sagebrush give the palate a clear starting point and explain the main aromatic direction.

The nose is led by juniper where it is present, then develops through the citrus, spice, fruit or herbal notes carried by the recipe. On the palate, the gin keeps a measured line: the fruit is not treated as a syrup, the spice remains integrated, and the botanical elements provide structure through the finish. Chilled dilution brings those layers into focus and makes the balance easier to read.

Enjoy it in a large balloon glass with clear ice and a restrained, clean tonic chosen to support rather than cover the gin. Keep the garnish simple and tied to a confirmed ingredient, such as a citrus peel when citrus is part of the recipe. This approach keeps the drink refreshing while leaving the individual character of Woodacre Gin intact.