FIRST JOURNEYS - 80 GINS AROUND THE WORLD - PIN 16 OF 80
BLINKING OWL GIN, Santa Ana, Ca, USA
AROUND THE WORLD, ONE BOTTLE AT A TIME,
PHILEAS FOGG WOULD SURELY APPROVE
Today's stop on the Atlas takes me to Blinking Owl Distillery in Santa Ana, California, and a gin that has plenty of character before you even open the bottle.
Blinking Owl holds a special place in Orange County history, as it was the first craft distillery to open in the county since Prohibition.
Founded by Brian and Robin Christenson in 2016, their aim was to create spirits that reflected their local community, using a true grain-to-glass approach with California-grown organic grains.
The distillery name comes from a piece of local nostalgia. Stories are told of a mid-century bar in Santa Ana that had a neon owl sign outside which blinked at passers-by, and this little piece of history inspired both the name and the personality behind the brand.
The retro theme continues throughout the distillery, with a tasting room that feels like a step back into the 1970s, full of vintage cocktail inspiration. Even the bottle keeps things simple and classic, avoiding the temptation to follow every branding trend and allowing the spirit inside to do the talking.
Their founding distiller, Ryan Friesen, brought experience from Journeyman Distillery in Michigan, and together they have focused on keeping their spirits connected to their surroundings. Local ingredients and resources are important to their philosophy, including the use of California-grown grains and locally sourced water.
Their gin is distilled from their own neutral grain spirit and features 13 botanicals, including hibiscus, which pays tribute to Santa Ana's official city flower. It is aromatic and smooth, with a lovely oily texture and a really intriguing flavour journey. When nosing this one, I unexpectedly picked up notes of banana bread (perhaps lockdown baking has influenced my senses!), before the classic resinous juniper notes appear on the finish.
It’s a gin that is both familiar and different at the same time—bright, playful and full of personality. Perhaps that is no surprise given Blinking Owl’s own philosophy of friendship, fun and artistry.
Another fascinating stop on the Atlas, and proof that sometimes the best stories begin with a simple blink of an eye.
“A blinking neon sign, a family story and a California original.”
"Show me a bottle
and I'll tell you a story."