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Sunday, June 13, 2010

Ransom - an artisan distillery

Available online now

Ransom Spirits
Sheridan, Oregon


Ransom Old Tom Gin
This Old Tom Gin is a historically accurate revival of the predominant Gin in fashion during the mid 1800's and the golden age of American cocktails. The recipe was developed in collaboration with historian, author, and mixologist extraordinaire David Wondrich. Old Tom is the Gin for mixing classic cocktails dating from the days before prohibition. It's subtle maltiness is the result of using a base wort of malted barley, combined with an infusion of botanicals in high proof corn spirits. The final distilation is run through an alambic pot still in order to preserve the maximum amount of aromatics, flavor and body. Only the "heart of the hearts" (the very best portion of distillate) is retained for this special bottling.


Ransom Small's Gin


An Oregon spirit handmade in small-pot batches using naturally-farmed and wild-grown botanicals. Intensely aromatic from a complex infusion of Juniper, orange, lemon, coriander, cardamom, angelica, caraway, star anise, and respberry. Small's gin brings together a combination of recipes from the 19th century with obsessive distillation techniques and the finest regional ingredients. The best of tradition, dedication to quality and innovation come together to create a remarkable, elaborate and unrivaled spirit.



And new to us....



Whipper Snapper Oregon Spirit Whiskey
Hi-Falutin'
Admirably Superior -- Well Mannered
79% Corn Neutral Spirits
21% Barley Spirits

"All good things take time. So the saying goes. And this juvenile got off to a real slow start. We took our sweet time selecting premium ingredients, meticulously milling the grain, working and fermenting the mash, and most importantly, making well, considered, ruthless cuts at the condenser. Pot distillation is a slow lengthy process, that when done properly and patiently can take upwards of sixteen hours for one pass through the still. Rushing things usually leads to inaccuracy. On the other hand, critical decisions for making the right cuts need to be made within minutes, sometimes split seconds. This is likely where the wildness came from. Sometimes even the most well thought out of plans seem to develop a mind of their own. Anyway, we kept and collected only the very best fraction of distillate and lovingly placed it in oak to mature. Over the next months and years this infant spirit grew into a recognizable and livley young whiskey. Taking on color, roundness and body from the cooperage, but still retaining the aromatics of ceral and vigor of the grains he came from. Normally, us older folks decided when the young'un is grown up and truly ready to face the world for the first time. But, every now and then some crazy critter gets up jumpin' and hollerin' "Let me out of this dang barrel!" -- ah, impetuous youth. We let him out and named him the "Whipper Snapper." He's a good kid.
Made entirely from hand without the use of computers or robots.






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