Something completely new — a savory, spicy, smoky Gin at full Navy Strength.

In 1864, Joseph A. Magnus was notified that his father had been killed in the Civil War. Being the eldest son, he went to work as a merchant in Cincinnati, Ohio, to support the family. He found his niche in wholesale Spirits, and soon opened the Joseph A. Magnus distillery where he produced Murray Hill Club Whiskey. Prohibition shut him down for good. But the story goes that his great grandson found a 122-year-old, unopened bottle in family effects and used the flavor profile to relaunch the family business on West Virginia Avenue in Washington DC as Jos. A. Magnus & Co. Today they have a tidy range of Whiskies and Gins worth tasting.

We’ve got to hand it to these folks. Most of the time, when a distillery wants to make a Navy Strength Gin they just crank-up the ABV of their regular Gin and call it a day. But when the team at Jos. A. Magnus set out to make a Vigilant Navy Strength Gin they rejiggered the entire botanical list. It starts with the same base of 100% corn Spirit, but it steeped and distilled with smoky harissa — a North African chili paste. Then they bring on infusions of aged Italian juniper, figs, fresh mint, lemon zest, hops, and hibiscus along with an unknown number of other secrets. The profile is savory, spicy, and smoky and you will taste it all at 57% ABV.

Smartass Corner:
Murray Hill was — at the time — a prestigious section of Columbus, Ohio. Magnus named his Whiskey after this district in the city.