Wayward Unruly Gin

Wayward Unruly Gin starts with 100% British Columbia honey, fermented into mead before the spirit is distilled. Wayward separates the heads and tailsHeart cutOnly the middle part of the distillate is kept. The overly volatile heads and the heavy tails are set aside.Glossary on custom-designed stills, keeps the softer hearts, then distils them once more with a vapour infusionVapour infusionBotanicals sit in a basket above the liquid, so only the alcohol vapour passes through them, for a lighter, fresher extraction.Glossary of botanicals. Bottled at 43% ABV, the gin balances juniper with cedar, citrus, lavender, sarsaparilla root and coriander.

Citrus · Woody · Floral · Herbal

The honey base gives the aroma a soft, floral warmth, while the palate stays dry enough for juniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary to remain clear. Cedar lends a green, resinousResinousAn aroma reminiscent of pine or fir resin. It is juniper's signature, due to compounds such as pinene.Glossary note; citrus brightens it, and coriander adds gentle spice. Lavender softens the edges with a fragrant floral touch, while sarsaparilla gives the finish a smooth, root-like sweetness. These flavours arrive in layers without making the gin taste sugary. The contrast between honey-derived spirit and crisp botanicals is central to its character.

Wayward's method begins with fermentation rather than neutral grain spiritNeutral spiritAgricultural spirit rectified to at least 96% ABV, almost tasteless. It is the base later flavoured with botanicals.Glossary: the honey is first made into mead, and that mead is distilled. The distillery's careful separation of the spirit's hearts is followed by a final vapour infusionInfusionFruit or plants are steeped in the spirit to release their flavour. Done after distillation, infusion often adds colour too, and the gin can no longer be called London Dry.Glossary, which captures the lighter aromas of its botanical blend. The approach gives Unruly a Canadian-style profile rather than a juniper-heavy London Dry template. Wayward makes its spirits in Courtenay on Vancouver Island and describes the gin as suited to both neat tasting and classic cocktails.

For a long drink, use 4.5 cl gin and 10 cl Thomas Henry Classic Premium Indian Style Tonic Water over firm ice. Its clean quinine lets the cedar and citrus remain in focus. Add a fresh lime twist and a rosemary sprig to the glass, then repeat the garnishes beside it. Stir gently once; the lime opens the aroma, and rosemary links the herbal notes to the gin's soft honey warmth.