Best Gin In America, Wall Street Journal 2009
Handcrafted, hand bottled, hand labeled, and hand numbered, this small batch gin is truly unique. First, it is an American Gin. Master Distiller Todd Leopold handcrafts every batch in a small 40-gallon copper still, blending uniquely American botanicals like hand-zested Florida Oranges and California Pummelos. These components lend citrus notes to the gin, and helps to distinguish our American Gin from its English counterparts.
Second, we distill all of our botanicals in fractions, meaning that we distill each component of our gin separately and then blend them together to create the finished spirit. Unlike mass-produced gins where the flavors can appear to be muddled together, and stronger spices can overpower the balance of the gin, distilling in fractions allows each individual note to be highlighted. The result is a softer, more refined, and more approachable spirit.
In the spring of 2009, the Wall Street Journal held a blind tasting of all available American Gins. Leopold’s was selected as their very favorite.
Leopold’s Gibson
3 oz. Leopold’s Small Batch Gin
Combine gin with ice in a mixing tin. Shake and strain into a 6 oz. martini glass. Garnish with pearled onions.
Leopold's Cooler
1 Muddle
1 Shaking Tin and Strainer
1 Sixteen Ounce Hi-ball Glass
1 1/2 oz of Leopold's American Small Batch Gin
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
1 Fresh Mint Sprig
1 Lemon
Club soda
Take one mint leave between two hands and smack as if clapping your hands to release the mint oils. Place the mint leaf in mixing tin and muddle gently (without tearing the leaf as this will produce unwanted bitterness).
Squeeze the juice of one whole lemon into the mixing tin and discard the lemon. Add simple sugar next, then the Leopold's American Small Batch Gin, then ice to tin. Shake and strain into an ice-filled Hi-ball glass with straw. Smack another mint leaf between your hands and place the mint leaf on top of the Hi-ball glass as a garnish. Serve chilled.
Michigin and Tonic
1 1/2 oz. Leopold's Gin
3/4 oz. Leopold Bros. Michigan
Tart Cherry Liqueur
First, pour Michigan Tart Cherry Liqueur into an ice-filled lo-ball glass. Then, add Leopold's Gin & top with tonic.