1st April, 2015 by Amy Hopkins

New San Diego craft distillery, the Old Harbour Distilling Company, has released its inaugural product, a London dry gin containing botanicals with flavours typically found in Mexican cuisine.

The distillery’s San Miguel Southwestern Gin is created using locally-grown botanicals such as cilantro, coriander, lime, sage, cucumber, as well as juniper berries sourced from Italy.

Influenced by Spanish and Mexican cultures, San Miguel is named after the original title bestowed upon San Diego by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the famed explorer who claimed the coastal city for Spain in 1542.

Created by brewer-turned-distiller Michael Skubic, San Miguel is described as a “spicy, bright and intensely herbal gin”, that can be enjoyed neat or as part of a cocktail.

“San Diego is one of the best cities in the world for growing produce — we have access to year-round botanicals for our gin,” says Skubic, master distiller and founder of Old Harbour.

“This city is maturing on both the beverage front and the restaurant front, with a focus on access to locally sourced products. We are excited for the future as we get to collaborate with more and more local suppliers and retailers.”

Old Harbour Distilling Company is based in a 7,500-square-foot building in San Diego’s East Village neighbourhood, and uses a hybrid column-pot still to create its flagship spirits.

The distillery plans to launch a navy strength rum, white rum and a barrel-aged version matured in a variety of oak barrels, as well as a single malt single hop amaro and a variety of whiskies.

Bottled at 47% abv, San Miguel Southwestern Gin carries an RRP of US$25.99 per 750ml bottle.