As January wraps up, we here at Gin Raiders would like to commend the exceptional gins we’ve tasted this month, whether freshly released or just crossing our desk for the first time.

Hood River Distillers Captures the Magic of Seattle-Made, Pacific Northwest Favorite Award-Winning Gin with New Package Design.

Hood River Distillers, the oldest and largest importer, distiller and marketer of distilled spirits in the Northwest, relaunches their small batch, award-winning gin - Big Gin. Handcrafted in Seattle, Washington, in the shipyards of Ballard, Big Gin is the no-fuss, quality gin both bartenders and the “gin-curious” can believe in. With its three expressions: London Dry, Bourbon Barreled and Peat Barreled, as well as limited single barrel releases, the innovative spirit remains the same liquid formulation and make process for the local, approachably priced, high quality option, now with a whole new look.

Aligning with the Hood River Distillers’ company interest in the preservation of the Pacific Northwest environment, The Freshwater Trust’s mission is to preserve and restore freshwater ecosystems in the West, including streams, rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Currently, there are active restoration and conservation projects in six basins across three states, including the Sandy, John Day, Rogue, Lostine, Snake, and Sacramento-San Joaquin. The organization also recently entered a contract with Washington's King County to improve water quality in Puget Sound.

Now in its 9th year, Sip Magazine has released the winners of its annual Best of the Northwest awards and we are proud to announce that Big Gin received two Platinum medals and one Gold medal!

The ninth annual Best of the Northwest Competition features the top picks for wine, beer, spirits and cider the region has to offer. The top four winning submissions of each category are awarded medals and the issue covers industry leaders, trends, travel and products.

Among submissions from over 34 countries, we are honored to announce that Big Gin won a Gold Medal (90 points!) at the 2020 Bartender Spirits Awards. Don't worry, Bourbon Barreled and Peat Barreled were not left out; they came in right behind at 89 points each. The Bartender Spirits Awards judge spirits across the parameters of Mixability, Balance and Versatility, Taste, Mouthfeel and Finish, Package and Price.