Wild Life Alberta Botanical Gin 2026

Wild Life Alberta Botanical Gin is made only during the summer, using botanicals gathered in Alberta. The 2026 batch is bottled at 42.1% ABV, and its recipe is allowed to change from year to year with the plants available. That annual variation is central to the bottling: it records a particular season in the province rather than repeating a fixed list unchanged. The base combines Alberta spring wheat and malted barley with Rocky Mountain water.

Woody · Herbal · Earthy

The 2026 edition highlights Rocky Mountain juniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary, yarrow, Labrador tea, cow parsnip, toasted spruce and wild honey. On the nose, juniper and honey arrive with a soft smoky hint of spruce.

The palate moves toward yarrow and green herb notes; the distillery also describes impressions of cucumber and watermelon seed. The finish is juicy and earthy. Honey rounds the entry, while the foragedForagingPlants gathered by hand in the wild (woods, heath, coastline) rather than grown or bought in.Glossary plants keep the flavour dry, green and rooted in the landscape.

Because the recipe changes with the harvest, this gin offers a different snapshot each summer. Wild Life lists a Vesper MartiniDry MartiniGin and a little dry vermouth, stirred over ice and served in a well-chilled stemmed glass, with an olive or a twist.Glossary and a NegroniNegroniAn Italian cocktail of equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and red bitter (Campari), served over ice with orange peel. Born in Florence in 1919.Glossary among its cocktail suggestions, both of which give the higher-strength botanical profile room to unfold. At the table, the distillery pairs it with watermelon and feta, charcuterie, game, carbonara and lemon sorbet. Those varied matches reflect the gin's combination of herbal depth, honeyed warmth and a clean, earthy close.

For a long drink, use 45 ml gin and 100 ml Fentimans Herbal Tonic Water over hard ice. A cucumber ribbon cools the green notes, while a small spruce tip connects the aroma to the toasted woodland character; place both inside the glass and repeat them on a small plate beside it. Pour slowly and stir once. The tonic should extend the herbs without masking the juniper, honey or the seasonal character of the 2026 batch.