Aviation American Gin
Aviation American Gin emerged from Portland, Oregon in 2006, developed by bartender Ryan Magarian and distiller Christian Krogstad with the goal of creating a gin that would excel in cocktails while remaining approachable for contemporary palates. The brand took its name from the classic Aviation cocktail, a pre-Prohibition drink that had fallen into obscurity before being revived by craft bartenders in the early 2000s. Unlike London Dry gins that emphasize juniper above all else, Aviation was formulated to balance its botanicals in a way that would complement rather than dominate mixed drinks.
The spirit gained broader recognition after actor Ryan Reynolds acquired an ownership stake in 2018, though the liquid itself and production methods have remained consistent with the original vision. Aviation belongs to the American New Western style of gin, a category that emerged in the Pacific Northwest and emphasizes botanical complexity over juniper dominance. This approach has influenced how many drinkers now evaluate and select gins, particularly those who find traditional London Dry expressions too aggressive or one-dimensional.
Aviation American Gin emerged from Portland, Oregon in 2006, developed by bartender Ryan Magarian and distiller Christian Krogstad with the goal of creating a gin that would excel in cocktails while remaining approachable for contemporary palates.
Read more about Aviation American Gin
Aviation American Gin emerged from Portland, Oregon in 2006, developed by bartender Ryan Magarian and distiller Christian Krogstad with the goal of creating a gin that would excel in cocktails while remaining approachable for contemporary palates. The brand took its name from the classic Aviation cocktail, a pre-Prohibition drink that had fallen into obscurity before being revived by craft bartenders in the early 2000s. Unlike London Dry gins that emphasize juniper above all else, Aviation was formulated to balance its botanicals in a way that would complement rather than dominate mixed drinks.
The spirit gained broader recognition after actor Ryan Reynolds acquired an ownership stake in 2018, though the liquid itself and production methods have remained consistent with the original vision. Aviation belongs to the American New Western style of gin, a category that emerged in the Pacific Northwest and emphasizes botanical complexity over juniper dominance. This approach has influenced how many drinkers now evaluate and select gins, particularly those who find traditional London Dry expressions too aggressive or one-dimensional.
Production Method and Botanical Profile
Aviation American Gin is produced at House Spirits Distillery in Portland using a neutral grain spirit base that undergoes a single distillation with botanicals. The recipe includes seven primary botanicals: juniper, lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, cardamom, coriander, and dried sweet orange peel. This combination distinguishes Aviation from both London Dry gins and other American styles, as the lavender contributes a floral character that softens juniper's piney edge while the cardamom adds warmth without introducing heavy spice notes.
The distillation process uses a pot still rather than a column still, which allows for greater retention of botanical aromatics and a fuller mouthfeel. After distillation, the spirit is cut to 42% alcohol by volume (84 proof) for the standard expression, a proof point chosen specifically for cocktail performance. The lower proof compared to many London Dry gins means the botanicals remain present without becoming harsh when mixed with citrus, vermouth, or tonic water. No color is added, and the gin is bottled without barrel aging, preserving the bright, floral character of the botanical blend.
Flavor Profile and Cocktail Applications
On the palate, Aviation presents juniper as a supporting player rather than the dominant force found in traditional gin. The lavender introduces a gentle floral sweetness on the front of the tongue, followed by cardamom warmth and subtle anise. The finish shows dried citrus peel and a light herbal quality from the sarsaparilla. This balanced approach makes the spirit versatile across different cocktail styles—it performs well in spirit-forward builds like martinis where its floral notes add complexity, and equally well in fizzes and sours where it doesn't compete with citrus acids.
The Aviation cocktail itself—combining gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette, and lemon juice—remains the brand's signature serve, though the gin works across classic and contemporary recipes. In a Negroni, the lavender softens Campari's bitterness while maintaining enough structure to balance sweet vermouth. In a gimlet or Tom Collins, the cardamom and citrus peel enhance rather than mask fresh lime or lemon. For drinkers who find traditional London Dry expressions too piney or medicinal, Aviation offers an entry point that demonstrates gin's range beyond juniper-forward styles.
The New Western Gin Movement
Aviation represents a broader shift in American distilling that began in the mid-2000s, when craft producers started questioning the assumption that gin must be defined primarily by juniper intensity. The New Western or Contemporary style emerged largely from Pacific Northwest distilleries that had access to local botanicals and a customer base primed by the region's cocktail culture to accept non-traditional flavor profiles. These gins typically feature juniper as one botanical among equals rather than as the foundation, allowing distillers to explore floral, citrus, spice, or herbal directions.
This approach has proven polarizing among gin traditionalists, who argue that insufficient juniper character crosses the legal line from gin into flavored vodka. The U.S. definition of gin requires only that juniper be present and dominant, a standard more permissive than the European Union's stricter regulations. Regardless of definitional debates, the New Western style has expanded the category's appeal, particularly among drinkers who previously avoided gin entirely. For bartenders, these gins offer different tools—where a London Dry might anchor a drink with piney backbone, an Aviation-style gin provides a softer, more aromatic foundation that allows other ingredients to contribute equally to the final flavor.
Evaluating and Selecting Botanical-Forward Gins
When comparing gins in the New Western style, examine both the botanical list and the proof point, as these factors determine cocktail performance and neat sipping character. Lavender, cucumber, rose, and citrus are common botanicals that signal a softer, more aromatic profile compared to juniper-dominant gins. Proof matters significantly—gins bottled at 40-42% ABV (80-84 proof) tend to work best in citrus-forward cocktails and longer drinks, while those at 45-47% ABV (90-94 proof) maintain better structure in spirit-forward builds like martinis or Gibsons.
Price in this category typically reflects botanical sourcing and distillation scale rather than aging or rarity, since gins don't undergo barrel maturation. For cocktail use, match the gin's botanical profile to your intended recipe rather than defaulting to the most expensive option—a floral, lower-proof gin will perform poorly in a Negroni where a London Dry would excel, while that same London Dry might overwhelm a delicate gin fizz. Tasting neat at room temperature reveals the spirit's core character, but evaluating with a small amount of tonic water or in a simple 2:1 gin-to-vermouth martini provides better insight into how the botanicals will behave in actual cocktails.