FIRST JOURNEYS - A RACE AROUND THE WORLD 2020 - PIN 18 OF 23
SMOOTH AMBLER, Greenbriar Gin, USA
AROUND THE WORLD, ONE BOTTLE AT A TIME.
PHILEAS FOGG WOULD SURELY APPROVE
Day 11 stop 1...
This morning I've an earworm that I'll leave you all to figure out, but I'm in West Virginia - that's your clue! My breakfast martini is made using the gorgeously smooth, Greenbrier Gin, which is citrus forward with rich, nutty caramel notes and a little spicy finish. It's not your classic London Dry and makes me think of sipping a bourbon. It's definitely a step outside of my comfort zone and I kind of like it and think I would be quite happy to sip this one on the rocks!
So, sipping my martini and admiring the view of the surrounding mountains, but what about Smooth Ambler Spirits? Well, this is a small business run by two friends who set up their distillery in 2009 with the aim to produce a range of spirits from whisky through to gin.
They are a true grain to glass producer and believe in sourcing the best ingredients they can and from local producers.
They make their own vodka using a mix of corn, wheat and malted barley and redistil this with juniper, coriander, cardamom, lemon peel, black peppercorns, orange and angelica, to create their Greenbrier Gin. It's quite clear that the base spirit here makes all the difference, as their belief is that if you are going to pay good money for a vodka, it actually needs to taste of something and not be a totally neutral spirit.
There’s a lovely richness that comes through, and it smells quite different to your usual gin. You can really get your nose in the glass with this one without being hit by a blast of alcohol — it’s smooth, inviting and definitely makes you want to take a proper sniff! For me, this is a sign of quality and a gin that doesn't disappoint.
Atlas Note:
Smooth Ambler Spirits was founded in 2009 by John Little and Tag Galyean in Maxwelton, West Virginia. The distillery is still operating today, although it is no longer an independent business, having been acquired by Pernod Ricard in 2016. Greenbrier Gin was part of Smooth Ambler's earlier range and is no longer produced, making this bottle something of a piece of gin history.
"Almost heaven, West Virginia…"
"Show me a bottle
and I'll tell you a story."