Letherbee Autumnal Gin
Letherbee · Letherbee Distillers
Letherbee Autumnal Gin is a darkly compelling spirit that channels the smoke and spice of a harvest bonfire into a genuinely distinctive gin. Its robust botanical profile and elevated proof make it a natural fit for stirred, spirit-forward cocktails, and its smoky undertones place it squarely in dialogue with peated whisky and mezcal. A seasonal release that deserves year-round attention.
Nose
A brooding, wintry opening of charred birch bark, smoked black cardamom, and dried juniper berries. Underneath, wisps of toasted fennel seed and clove-studded orange peel emerge, giving the aroma a campfire-meets-spice-market complexity. A subtle earthiness—almost mushroomy—lingers at the edges.
Palate
The palate leads with resinous juniper and cracked black pepper before pivoting to warm baking spices: cinnamon bark, allspice, and a thread of smoked star anise. A velvety mouthfeel carries dried citrus peel and roasted coriander through the mid-palate, while a bitter gentian-like note adds backbone. The higher proof ensures the botanicals cut through without being overshadowed.
Finish
Long and warming, with lingering woodsmoke, dried herbs, and a peppery tingle that fades into sweet juniper resin. A whisper of charred orange peel persists on the exhale.
- Style
- Seasonal American Dry Gin
- Botanicals
- Juniper, coriander, cardamom, cassia bark, ginger, star anise, fennel seed, lemon peel, orange peel, cubeb pepper
- Base Spirit
- Neutral grain spirit
- Distillation
- Pot-distilled neutral grain spirit redistilled with a proprietary botanical blend featuring juniper, coriander, cardamom, and seasonal warming spices
Cocktail Suggestion
Smoked Ember Negroni — 1.5 oz Letherbee Autumnal Gin · 1 oz Campari · 0.75 oz Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth · 0.25 oz Cynar · Stir all ingredients with ice for 30 seconds · Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube · Garnish with a flamed orange peel
Food Pairing
Thick slices of smoked paprika-rubbed pork belly, slow-roasted until the fat renders to silk, served alongside charred radicchio and a drizzle of aged balsamic. The gin's peppery warmth and resinous juniper echo the paprika's smokiness while its citrus notes cut through the richness of the pork.
Born in Chicago's Garfield Park neighborhood, Letherbee Distillers crafts its Autumnal Gin by infusing a bold rotation of warming, smoke-adjacent spices into their juniper-forward base spirit, capturing the essence of Midwestern bonfires as the season turns.
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