Only the most serious of Scotch whisky geeks noticed when former Wolfburn master distiller Shane Frasier left Scotland to pursue a new position in New York’s Hudson Valley a few years back. As an icon who worked previously at Glenfarclas, Oban, and Royal Lochnagar, it caught the attention of many in the industry who then dug deeper into which distillery had managed to lure him across the Atlantic!

Founded by ex-Williams Seylem boss John Dyson, America’s Ten Mile Distillery has been one of America’s best kept secrets, selling almost all of its whiskey to a members-only waitlist and keeping its outstanding craft gin entirely confined to the East Coast. As one of the most idyllic operations in the US, the feedback on the entire portfolio has been outstanding and the awards have been piling up—to the extent that retailers out west have been clamoring for an allocation.

What makes the Ten Mile “Listening Rock” gin so special? Let’s start with the fact that its flavors are clean, fresh, full of citrus and mint, brimming with Springtime. It’s exactly what you want to drink this time of the year in LA. Lucky for us, we’ve finally managed to secure a limited quantity here in California!

Using 100% New York-grown grains, lemon balm and mint grown at the distillery, and local juniper, the Listening Rock gin sings in anything with citrus, from a gin and tonic with lime to a Bee's Knees to a Corpse Reviver #2.

What’s most impressive about Listening Rock Gin is its prowess as a straight sipper. At room temperature, straight out of the glass, the texture and delicacy of its flavors are haunting. It’s like a finished cocktail entirely on its own. Try it in a martini with a lemon twist or even on the rocks with a splash of soda.

If you’re even remotely interested in gin, you’ll want to try a bottle of this.