Blue Spirits Ghost Gin 7

Made in Cashmere, Washington, Blue Spirits Ghost Gin #7 is distilled from American grain, bottled at 44.5% ABV, and aged and finished in bourbon barrels. Its six named botanicals are juniper, cucumber, lavender, grapefruit, lemon and sage. The barrel gives the gin a softer, wood-touched frame, and the number matters: this is a different recipe from the unaged Ghost Gin #6.

Citrus · Floral · Herbal

Juniper brings a dry, pine-like note, while cucumber adds a cooler green quality. Grapefruit and lemon supply separate citrus accents: one fuller and slightly bitter, the other bright and sharp. Lavender contributes a floral edge; sage gives the finish a savoury herbal character. Bourbon barrels soften these elements and add a wood influence, while the botanicals remain central. At 44.5%, the gin has a firm presence without the proof of a navy-strengthNavy StrengthGin bottled at 57% ABV or more. Royal Navy lore holds that at this strength, gunpowder soaked in gin would still ignite.GlossarySee Navy Strength gins bottling.

A gin and tonic should leave the citrus and herbs in view. For the Perfect ServePerfect serveThe way the producer recommends serving the gin (glass, tonic, ratio, garnish) to show it at its best.Glossary, fill a balloon glassCopa glassA large stemmed balloon glass, popularised by the Spanish gin and tonic: it stays cold for longer and gathers the aromas above the drink.Glossary with ice, pour 5 cl of gin and 10 cl of Double Dutch Indian Tonic WaterIndian tonicThe classic tonic: sparkling water, bitter quinine and sugar. The name recalls colonial India, where quinine warded off malaria.Glossary, stir gently, then add a cucumber ribbon and one fresh sage leaf. The Indian tonic keeps the profile clear; cucumber and sage both repeat botanicals from the recipe, so one ribbon and one leaf are enough. A grapefruit-and-rosemary tonic is another option for a more aromatic drink. The barrel character also makes the gin suitable for a stirred 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, where oak can sit alongside bitter and vermouth.

The blend of citrus, flowers, herbs and bourbon-barrel ageing places Ghost Gin #7 between a fresh botanical gin and a wood-influenced cocktail spirit. A small neat pour can be tasted slowly, while slight dilution helps reveal the ingredients. In a long drink, avoid extra garnishes or strongly flavoured mixers that could blur lavender, sage and the cask finish. Ghost Gin #7 rewards that restraint: six botanicals, a bourbon cask and a finish where lavender and sage stay clear.