A spring hike through Big Sur gave Bixby Dry Gin its direction. Lloyd Distillery makes it in Gonzales, California, on a hand-built still heated by direct fire. Each 92-proof micro-batch carries its number on the label. California bay gathered in the coastal mountains joins juniper, elderflower, sage, rosemary, rose hips, orange peel, coriander, orris and chamomile. The nose moves from pine and orange oils to meadow flowers and aromatic herbs. Bay and sage lend a dry, savoury middle, while chamomile and elderflower soften the edges without adding sugary weight. Direct heat gives the distiller a vivid, characterful spirit rather than a polished neutral profile. Gold medals at the San Francisco competition in 2020 and again in 2026 underline that balance of intensity and precision.

The ten named botanicals make the tasting sequence easy to follow. Resin arrives first, flowers and herbs widen the middle, and citrus restores definition before the finish. At 46% vol., the spirit has enough structure to remain articulate after dilution. Bay and rosemary deserve attention because they carry Big Sur into the recipe without reducing it to a scenic reference.

Pour 4 cl over hard ice and add 10 cl of dry Indian tonic. Put orange peel and a short rosemary sprig among the cubes, with a second curl of peel and rosemary beside the glass. The orange repeats the bright top notes while rosemary follows the gin rather than covering its bay and sage.

The bay is more than a reference to Big Sur: its green oils can be followed from the aroma into the dry finish, where rosemary and chamomile keep the profile balanced.