As The Guardian reported, 2016 was dubbed the year of gin, in large part due to a 16% increase in sales in the UK, with expansions seen in Spanish and U.S. markets. In 2017 the trend continued, with another 12% increase. The Telegraph likened this rising popularity to Downton Abbey and James Bond-inspired vintage impulses. Cultural media influences aside, it’s easy to understand why gin has been on trend more than vodka—unlike that ubiquitous clear spirit, which is typically distilled to have no flavor at all, gin is all about the juniper, along with whatever other botanicals the distillers decide to add to their recipe.
Distiller Ben Capdevielle, of Captive Spirits, should find this rising popularity encouraging, though he’s been a fan of gin for decades. He learned distilling from his father, and after 10 years working in the restaurant industry, he dove headlong into the distilling scene, and released the first bottle of Big Gin in early 2011, named after his dad, “Big Jim.”
Their signature gin leans heavily into the juniper with a slightly thicker mouthfeel than you might expect, with big notes of citrus, coriander, and a touch of vanilla and black pepper, characteristics that make it a fine example of why gin remains a more compelling cocktail base than vodka. In many ways, this craft gin feels targeted to compete with fans of legacy gin brands like Beefeaters and Tanqueray.
