"We are always drawn to the forest, to nature," says Caitlin Bartlemay, master distiller at Hood River, Oregon's Clear Creek distillery. "Even though we don't always get to spend time outdoors." This sentiment encapsulates the evolving relationship between nature and the spirits industry, emphasizing how distillers are inspired by the woodland landscapes that may not always be accessible to them.
The allure of the woods has prompted some distillers to try to capture the bracing notes of evergreen trees and mushroom-y forest floors in a bottle. Such creativity not only showcases the concept of terroir—where the taste of the product is influenced by its origin—but also allows drinkers to experience a glass that reflects the natural world.
Perhaps the OG of this outdoorsy category is St. George's Terroir Gin, inspired by Mount Tamalpais near the Alameda, California, distillery. Master Distiller Lance Winters describes it as akin to "drinking a martini in a pine forest.
"The forest here will be different from the forest where I grew up in Illinois, versus upstate New York or Vermont," driven by differences in temperature or rainfall, says Danielle Leavell, founder and master distiller of Seattle's Astraea Spirits. This exemplifies how variation in location influences the botanicals and spirits crafted, embracing the diversity within forest themes.
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