In October, Durham Distillery of Durham, North Carolina, will release its coveted Conniption Barrel Aged Gin. The limited-edition member of the Conniption Gin family, joins Conniption Kinship Gin, Conniption American Dry Gin and Conniption Navy Strength Gin.
“As a distillery dedicated to the exploration and education of gin, our goal has been to offer a barrel aged gin focused on the pairing of botanicals with bourbon barrel flavors—all while leveraging our unique modern cold vacuum distillation techniques,” explained founder and CEO Melissa Katrincic.
Conniption Barrel Aged Gin is a limited-edition small-batch aged gin which is introduced annually in the Fall. It will be available in North Carolina, and in key markets from Florida to New York, Boston and Chicago, and is also available for national shipping via conniptiongin.com. The spirit has been recognized as Best in the U.S. and a gold medal in the Barrel Aged category at this year’s World Gin Awards in London
The 2024 Conniption Barrel Aged Gin marks the release of the popular Conniption Barrel Aged Gin, first introduced in 2020, with just 3,700 bottles, then in 2023 with 4,000, and stemming from this gin’s ever-increasing popularity, this year will double to 8,000 bottles. It is inspired by the botanical blend in Durham Distillery’s Conniption Navy Strength Gin, and complemented by 10 months aging in 6-year bourbon barrels sourced from High West Distillery.
The Conniption Barrel Aged focuses on aging gin to ensure enhancement rather than any dulling of a gin’s personality. Savory notes of juniper, rosemary and caraway are balanced by spicy cardamom, sweet fig and lemon. “The 10 months spent in the barrel supplements this gin’s smoothness and rounds everything out. But the product still presents itself as a gin.”
As an important distinction, the Conniption Barrel Aged Gin is 47% ABV.
“We’re able to achieve a higher quality gin, and one with classic bourbon flavor profile notes, by proofing it to 47% ABV,” explained Katrincic. “As a result, this Conniption Barrel Aged Gin is delicious, and really stands up in cocktails.”
“While I enjoy this neat on its own like a premium bourbon, I particularly recommend a classic Old Fashioned, Martinez or Negroni in cocktail applications,” said master distiller and Co-owner Lee Katrincic.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is savory with notes of juniper, caraway, mulling spices. On the palate, savory notes of juniper, rosemary and toasted oak are balanced by spicy cardamom, sweet fig, and lemon. The long finish lingers as the luxurious fig and subtle pine rounds out the intensity and smooths the edges.
Enjoy this gin neat or in cocktails such as an Old Fashioned, a Martinez or Negroni. Find the recipe for a Pink Martinez, as served in Corpse Reviver Cocktail Bar.