Milwaukee-based Great Lakes Distillery, Wisconsin’s oldest distillery, has announced the release of Rehorst Barrel Reserve Gin, a limited bottling with 400 bottles produced monthly.
“We start with our award-winning Rehorst Gin and rest it in a barrel for approximately 10 months,” said founder Guy Rehorst. “We say it’s rested in a barrel because current federal regulations do not recognize gin as a spirit that is aged in barrels. Therefore we couldn’t use the word ‘aged’ in the product name or on the label.”
Currently on store shelves and in area bars and restaurants, it is only available in Wisconsin. The resultant spirit with the addition of used bourbon barrel exposure is bottled at 94 proof. Rehorst said Rehorst Barrel Reserve Gin makes for an interesting flavor twist in cocktails traditionally made with whiskey such as the Manhattan or Old Fashioned.
Great Lakes Distillery also produces products including vodka, gin, rum, absinthe and various fruit brandies.