I don’t imply to brag after I say that attending to pattern the fascinating and scrumptious merchandise of the drinks world is a large perk of my job. (Okay, perhaps I’m bragging a little.) Living proof: Guilder’s Purple Oolong Gin. I first sampled the gins from Guilder’s after they launched late final summer time. And I used to be struck by the serendipitous assembly and collaboration of the model’s founders, James Park and Wan Di, whom we subsequently featured on this 12 months’s Imbibe 75. The results of the collab is a trio of dry gins. Two spotlight the flavors of meticulously sourced Taiwanese tea leaves, and a 3rd is infused with goji berries.

Whereas every expression is gorgeous, the standout for me is the Purple Oolong Gin, each for its attractive aroma and distinctive taste profile. Di has a specific affinity for Taiwanese oolong. And the hunt for the right tea leaves concerned greater than a 12 months of experimentation. In the end, the gin is infused with a tournament-grade pink oolong from a third-generation tea grasp in Taitung, Taiwan. The russet-hued gin is heady with earthy, floral aromas from the wealthy, malty tea. It carries via notes of chocolate and orange with a pleasantly tannic end. I take pleasure in sipping it by itself with an orange twist. However I just lately encountered a Martini variation on the cocktail menu at Eavesdrop paired with a blanc vermouth. It was gorgeous. $54.99, chesterfinewine.com