Review: Sausalito Liquor Co. Marin Coastal Gin and Unsinkable Whiskeys
First, I love that a company in the 2020s named itself “Liquor Co.” Forget “Distilling” or “Spirits,” Sausalito Liquor Co. is kicking it old school.
The California operation launched last year with three spirits, a gin, a bourbon, and a rye. Designed with northern California’s distinct flora in mind, “these spirits are meant to be enjoyed with just a few other simple ingredients in any glass you have handy and with good friends and family – no Ph.D. in mixology required,” per the company.
“Our goal with Sausalito Liquor Co. is to provide spirit drinkers with the same welcoming, authentic, and unpretentious experience that has drawn independent thinkers, artists, iconoclasts and the occasional misfit to Sausalito for over a century. We want to offer people the chance to immerse themselves in the magic of the moment, without the constraints of conventional expectations,” says Scott Jampol, Sausalito Liquor Co. founder, former marketing executive, and part-time local bartender. “I’m an advocate for doing things the easy-drinking way, and I don’t think there should be any rules on how to enjoy good spirits. It’s okay that you don’t catch every nuance or identify every flavor. I just care that you like the way it makes you feel, much in the same way you can love a song or a piece of art without having to explain why.”
We received samples of all three of Sausalito’s products to review. Thoughts follow.
Sausalito Liquor Co. Marin Coastal Gin – Made with locally sourced (and inspired) botanicals intended to evoke the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, the aromatics bill here includes California citrus peel, locally foraged nori seaweed, angelica seeds from Santa Rosa, and two types of juniper. Savory and salty on the nose, elements of black and white pepper, sage, and rosemary are countered by a significant earthiness that evokes mushrooms and soy. Woodsy overtones suggest a mix of sandalwood and hemp. The palate is a bit brighter with notable juniper elements and obvious citrus, followed by a lightly doughy element that adds some tempering sweetness. Touches of lime leaf and grapefruit peel give the finish a somewhat bitter rush. A somewhat brooding, “thinking-person’s” gin that will take some forethought and testing to properly cocktail with. I’m eying tonic. 90 proof. B+ / $35
Sausalito Liquor Co. Unsinkable Bourbon – Sourced, “well-aged” Tennessee bourbon, finished in Napa cabernet sauvignon barrels; no further details or age statement. Boldly fruity on the nose, the wine influence is significant here — and you can get a hint of it in the color of the whiskey, too. Lively aromas of blackberry and sweet tea are countered by heady notes of incense and rye spice, but this fades as a more doughy, oxidized, and unctuous quality typical of red wine-finished whiskeys builds in the glass. The balsamic notes on the finish aren’t overly aggressive, however, and the late game takes its bready character to a pleasant, Old Wine conclusion that evokes old steakhouses, rye toast, and the last cocktail cherry in the jar. 99 proof. B+ / $55
Sausalito Liquor Co. Unsinkable Rye – This rye’s sourced from Kentucky and finished in Napa port wine barrels. Again, no more deets. Again a bolder red color gives this whiskey some evidence of its finishing, though the nose plays its cards closer to the vest, with heavy elements of baking spice, toasted rye bread, dill, and barrel char all weighty. A tough-to-pick-out note of blood orange peel can be detected beneath all of the above, but hearty spice notes reign over them all. The port wine influence is far heavier on the palate, though it mixes fitfully with the herbal/spice notes, heavy again on the dill and fresh bread. Elements of coconut husk, heavily toasted sesame, and some soy are balanced by touches of plum wine, more brandied cherry, and a reprise of sharp and bittersweet blood orange. The herbal aromas cling to the environment, giving the whiskey a lingering pungency. Easily the most intriguing and enduring spirit in the lineup. 95 proof. A- / $55
Sausalito Liquor Co. Unsinkable Rye
$55
