Craft distilling comes to wine county

Stop us if you have heard this before: Lake County is the fastest-growing region in wine country.

Okay, we might have mentioned that a few (hundred) times, but what can we say? We’re proud of it, and the world-class wineries  who make it possible.

Do you know what else makes us proud?

Our first-ever craft distillery – High Chaparral Mountain Spirits!

We’re in high “spirits” about this news, and excited to introduce you to a “gin”-unine Lake County entrepreneur!

Meet Joy Merrilees, our first craft gin distiller.

If you’re a fan of Lake County’s wineries, you may recognize the name Joy Merrillees.

Joy is VP of Production for  Shannon Family of Wines. Her job is overseeing the wine portfolio of the Kelseyville-based winery, whose Lake County Syrah, Cabernet, and Chardonnay are matched only by their absolutely breathtaking ranch (seriously, check it out, because it’s beautiful).

Joy says she “developed a deep passion for botany, while growing up in the rugged terrain of the Chaparral mountains of California.” Girl, same.  

Her love of botanicals in the Chaparral mountains inspired her to pursue her dream side-gig of “sharing the magic of the Chaparral with the world in a form that captured its essence.”

Joy’s dream drove her to take distillation classes at the University of Oregon, where she formed helpful relationships. But her romantic vision didn’t become reality until she found herself blessed with a few extra grapes.

“In 2023, we had some extra grapes and thought, ‘why not make some gin with the plethora of local native aromatic plants from Lake County?’ It would make a great gin!”

She was right. Joy’s experimentation led her down the entrepreneurial path, resulting in a great story – and an even better gin. 

What makes their spirits so “gin”-uniely delicious?

Joy says High Chaparral Gin is “a tribute to my lifelong love affair with the land that shaped me.” She chose gin ”because it’s so expressive, and shows off the terroir and place we live.”

Much like Mt. Konocti furnishes the nutrient-rich soil that feeds the grapes for our wonderful wines, the native botanicals from the Chaparral Mountains create a unique flavor profile for High Chapparal’s gin.

“With every sip, one could taste the essence of the Chaparral, transporting them to its sun-drenched slopes and fragrant valleys,” says Joy.

According to High Mountain’s Instagram page: “The Chaparral biome is found in only 5 regions of the world, yet represents a large portion of the world’s plant diversity. It is this harsh environment that has created the wild growth in these high elevations that have adapted, survived, and thrived over millennia.”

“Thrived” is the right word. Their signature “Foraged Botanical Mountain Gin” spectacularly blends floral, fresh, and savory characters with citrus to drive the botanicals. Gotta give some love to the grapes (we love our grapes in Lake County), which give weight and texture, delivering a silky smooth finish that elevates any gin cocktail – or is splendid on its own.

Translation: This is some delicious  gin.

We’re not the only ones who think so. “Foraged Botanical Mountain Gin” competed with spirits across the country and won “Best Gin” at the 2024 Craft Distillers Competition!

So yeah, it’s not only “good.” It’s the best in the country!

What’s next for Joy?

Joy stays busy, that’s for sure. She says that next year they’re releasing a brandy, while she’s also working on a recipe for Nochino, a traditionally Italian liquor made from Lake County walnuts (we’re officially volunteering as taste testers).

Joy believes the time was right to bring craft distilling to Lake County, because our community has all the right ingredients – and she’s not just talking about the plants.

“It’s not easy farming grapes in rural Lake County. You have to have tenacity and grit to be successful. As farmers, we have to keep pushing the envelope to be creative and find ways of making perishable commodities into desirable products.” 

Trust us, gin doesn’t come any more desirable than Joy’s.

Where can I get it?

If you’re local, you can purchase a bottle at the Kelseyville Food Center located at 3985 Main Street. To purchase online visit this K&L Wine Merchants or any one of their four California retail stores in Redwood City, San Francisco, Hollywood and Culver City.

You can drink it straight, but if you fancy a cocktail, we recommend the Chaparral Gin Fizz, a vibrant and refreshing twist on a classic.

HERE’S HOW TO MAKE IT

Ingredients:

• 2 oz High Chaparral Gin
• ½ oz Lime  juice
• ½ oz  simple syrup
• 1 small medium egg white, optional
• 3 oz club soda
• Fresh lime and basil spring for garnish

DIRECTIONS

Without the egg white: 

• Shake High Chaparral gin, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. 
• Strain into a glass filled with ice. 
• Top with club soda and garnish with a lime slice.

With the egg white: 

• Add the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white to a dry cocktail shaker and shake for 15 to 20 seconds. 
• Add some ice, and then shake again until cold. 
• Strain into a glass filled with ice. 
• Top with club soda and garnish with a basil spring or lime slice.

Um … yum. 

If you’re wondering if it tastes as good as it sounds, guess what – it tastes better!

Congrats to Joy, and thank you for elevating the Lake County spirit scene with your magnificent gin.

We’re raising a glass to you, and all of our fantastic restaurants and wineries who help make Lake County such a great place to live, work, and play (sometimes at the same time).

Our foodie and craft spirit is just one of the many things that make us “Clearly Different.” So check us out, and we’ll see ya when ya get here!

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