You know him from movies like Deadpool, and that ridiculous Michael Bay movie, 6 Underground. But how much did you know about the actors buy-in into the gin industry?
Aviation American Gin, the best gin on the planet. That’s how its owner Ryan Reynolds puts it anyway. But what’s the story behind this product, pre-Reynolds, and does it actually offer anything besides being Ryan Reynold’s gin?
Tl;dr: It’s a better-than-good product with its signature smooth profile with a spicy end, and it's backed by some strong and funny marketing. Buy it for Ryan Reynolds, or not. (Highly Rated – 97 on Wine Enthusiast)
Aviation Gin was founded back in 2006, out of Portland, Oregon, from the passion of founders Ryan Magarian and Christian Krogstad to create a democratic blend of gin, with juniper in the background. A gin that could go with any cocktail, or even fly solo. This brand would go relatively unknown for a full decade, no surprise there, with American gins struggling with market share, even in their country of origin.
Fast forward to 2018, global consumption of gin was trending harder than any other alcohol category (many have made a correlation here with the rise of the plant-based products – like Impossible Meats). This resulted in a whole ton of significant shifts in the industry, including Reynold’s acquiring of a stake in the already 10-year old Aviation American Gin. The marketing, with Reynold as Creative Director, sells and sells (in fact, Aviation’s become America’s fastest growing gin brand). Why wouldn’t it? Reynold’s a comedic genius, making some serious points about the quality of gin, but in the most lighthearted, relatable ways possible. But what we’re actually interested in, is the quality of the product.
When it comes to taste, is Aviation Gin any better compared to bigger names like Bacardi’s Bombay Sapphire, and Diageo’s Tanqueray?
“I’ve tried every gin on the planet and Aviation is, hands down, the best.
Also, I don’t recommend trying every gin on the planet. Stick with this one.”
– Ryan Reynolds
Made out of seven flavouring ingredients: juniper, lavender, sweet and bitter orange peel, cardamom, coriander, Indian sarsaparilla, and anise seed, Aviation Gin comes from a common American trend of creating gins that shy away from the more Juniper-heavy UK gins. So upon first taste, it’s easy to see how it’s very similar to a good London Dry, but with the earthy, rich notes of anise, orange, lavender, and cardamom at the forefront. Simply put, it’s got drinkability written all over it.
I’ve got a funny feeling that not a lot of the ladies are buying this for its drinkability though.
Here at Urbanfindr, we don’t usually drink our gin straight. We’d usually suggest doing it with a decent tonic, or in a cocktail that can bring out the beauty of those botanics. But somehow, Aviation’s made a gin that goes down so smooth, it’s perfectly advisable to drink it neat (whether Reynolds actually made this gin – hey, who cares?). It’s a strong point to a product that’s already a great fix for an easy cocktail, or even a simple Gin & Tonic. Check out and buy the product, and all the fun associated with it, on our store.
Having a dine-out with that gin of yours? Check out some crazy local Singaporean food pairings you could do here.
