Our first bottling of Voyager Gin

Yesterday we bottled our first batch of Voyager Single-Batch Distilled Gin. In addition to our family helping out we had a few volunteers with the work. The first part of the process was to bring the still strength gin from 156 proof down to the drinking strength of 84 proof. This was done by blending in purified water and testing it for proof.

The next step was to fill the bottles. The newly proofed spirit is now pulled through via a sterile filter into the bottle filler. The picture below shows us filling a test bottle to insure accurate filling of the bottles.

The next step is to actually fill and hand cork the bottles.

The next part of the process is to apply our labels. Here you see my daughter Anastasia applying the labels.

The next step is to seal the bottles and place them into cases.

And here's the finished product. Feel free to go to your local liquor store and ask them to stock our fine Voyager Single-Batch Distilled Gin.

First Commercial Distillation

Well, last Saturday, September 27, we completed our first run of Voyager Single-Batch Distilled Gin. The still worked marvelously with no flaws. It was a unique experience to taste the varied flavors as they came across. The flavor was nothing short of fantastic. We had a good number of visitors and neighboring area commercial vintners dropping by for a visit We now have about 20 cases worth of uncut gin in storage and plan to make another distillation run in the near future. For those of you in Washington State, please go to your local liquor store and ask the manager to consider stocking our fine gin. Feel free to print the label below to show the manager or your favorite local bar/restaurant that our product does exist, and is available soon. We will have it available for the WSLCB (Washington State Liquor Control Board) to special order it within the next two weeks. Unlike many other states, Washington does not give preference to in-state distillers, brewers, or vintners in bringing in their products to market in their state stores. It appears that we can't even attend a listing meeting until this January. On the other hand, states like Oregon have a much more progressive attitude in helping to promote locally made alcoholic beverages.

Our new label

Here is a copy of our recently TTB approved gin label.