Mermaids and sirens, rather than battleships, decorate the label of James Bay Navy Strength Gin. The distillery, based at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, chose them as a nod to Homer's Odyssey and to the question of who really rules the waves. Launched in 2021 on a grain base, it comes in at 57%, the traditional navy strength, a level that popular naval lore links to gunpowder still igniting after being soaked with the spirit.

The botanical bill starts classically with juniper, coriander, angelica, orris root and cassia. Two further ingredients change its character: elderflower and vanilla, chosen to echo the flavours of a British royal wedding cake. Cassia, a close relative of cinnamon, supplies warmth, the roots bring an earthy, dry base, and the two newcomers soften the middle without taking any of the strength away. Both are soft, sweet-leaning flavours, which is why the high proof helps them stay distinct.

The nose opens on green juniper with hints of bitter orange, lemon and spice. On the palate, sweet juniper leads into vanilla and elderflower, with impressions of custard and crème anglaise next to bitter orange, before the spice returns. Lemon and orris root shape a sweet, earthy finish, and the high proof carries every step with real length.

That double nature explains how the gin behaves in mixed drinks. In a Negroni or a Martinez, juniper stays in front and cuts through the vermouth; with tonic or soda, vanilla and elderflower come forward instead. The distillery also suggests sipping it over ice. For a long drink, an Indian tonic keeps the bitterness firm against the vanilla, a long piece of lemon peel points to the citrus in the finish, and a vanilla pod recalls the wedding-cake idea behind the recipe.