The Heart Distillery 'Oak & Blossom' Barrel Aged Gin, Colorado

Rooted in the high-plains craft-spirit movement of northern Colorado, Oak & Blossom is a small-batch, barrel-aged gin that marries botanical finesse with oak-matured depth. Created by The Heart Distillery in Windsor, this expression invites gin aficionados and whiskey lovers alike into a refined hybrid style: bright blossom-driven gin character, tempered and enriched by two full years of oak maturation.

Product Details:

• ABV: 52%
• Production Batch / Scale: Artisanal, limited small-batch release (producer does not publish large-scale production numbers; aligned with craft distillation ethos)
• Distillation Base & Botanicals: Gin distilled in a typical botanically-led style (juniper + blossoms), though the detailed botanical list is not publicly disclosed by the producer
• Aging: Rested for 24 months in charred virgin oak barrels (two years) prior to bottling, imparting a golden hue and wood character to the gin
• Color & Appearance: Radiant golden/amber hue (result of barrel contact)
• Origin & Location: Distilled and bottled in Windsor, Colorado by The Heart Distillery
• Style: Barrel-aged gin bridging gin and whiskey sensibilities, botanical backbone softened by oak and vanilla/caramel temperament

Sensory Description:

On the nose, Oak & Blossom presents delicate floral aromatics, jasmine or orange blossom echoes, interlaced with subtle spice and warm vanilla imparted by the charred oak. The palate opens with fresh juniper lift and blossoms, then evolves elegantly into layers of mellow caramel, toasted oak, and a hint of persistent sweetness. The finish is long and gently oaky, offering a complexity reminiscent of lighter aged whiskey but with gin’s herbal DNA clearly present. The two-year barrel rest softens gin’s sharper edges while preserving its botanical core, delivering a spirit that invites sipping neat or over a large ice cube rather than just highball mixing.

Distiller’s Background:

The Heart Distillery was founded in August 2018 in Windsor, Colorado, by the family team of Pat and Amanda Weakland. Nestled alongside their greenhouse business and adjacent to High Hops Brewery, the distillery reflects a hands-on ethos of sourcing local ingredients and crafting premium spirits in a home-grown context. The Oak & Blossom release showcases their ambition to innovate within the gin category by embracing barrel aging, a technique more commonly applied to whiskey, while retaining a botanical spirit identity. The family ownership and small-batch orientation affirm its place among Colorado craft distillers who emphasize both provenance and personality.

Serving Suggestions

Serve slightly chilled or over a single large ice cube to allow the wood and botanical interplay to unfold, target around 50 °F if chilled. Ideal for sipping contemplatively after dinner, or as a refined base for elevated cocktails. Try substituting Oak & Blossom for whiskey in a Gin Old Fashioned: 1½ oz Oak & Blossom + ½ oz rich simple syrup + 2 dashes bitters + orange twist. It also pairs beautifully with a neat orange-oil twist or alongside light bar snacks like smoked almonds or rosemary-salted pecans. A must-try for gin enthusiasts looking to explore beyond the traditional botanically bright style, or whiskey lovers curious about botanical infusion with oak maturity.