Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin is the bottle we hand to guests who think they do not like gin, and it tends to change their minds. This small-batch California gin trades the usual juniper-heavy punch for a fresh, garden-forward style built around cucumber, sage, and lavender. It is bright, soft, and aromatic, exactly the kind of approachable, characterful pour that suits the warm, unpretentious mood at Camp West in West Seattle. We are glad to keep it on the shelf.
About the Distillery
Uncle Val’s is a small-batch, handcrafted American gin produced in California by 35 Maple Street Spirits, part of the 3 Badge Beverage family. The gin was inspired by the garden of founder Val Dorgan’s uncle and by Italian culinary tradition. It starts from a clean corn-based neutral spirit, distilled several times for purity before the botanicals are introduced.
Botanicals & Style
Uncle Val’s leads with five key botanicals: juniper, cucumber, lemon, sage, and lavender. Rather than long maceration, the botanicals are steeped using an immersion method, with certain ingredients left in contact longer to strengthen their aromatics. The style is a soft, fresh, botanical gin, where the savory sage and cool cucumber and floral lavender take the spotlight over heavy juniper.
Tasting Notes
It opens with bright lemon and cool, clean cucumber, moves through soft lavender and savory sage in the middle, and finishes smooth and gently warm. It is fresh, herbaceous, and remarkably easy to drink.
How to Enjoy It at Camp West
Uncle Val’s makes a beautifully fresh gin and tonic, especially with a cucumber slice and a sage leaf. It also makes a soft, herbal martini for drinkers who find classic gin too sharp. Ask your bartender for a garden-style cocktail. A pour of Uncle Val’s is $11.
FAQ
Where is Uncle Val’s made? It is a small-batch gin made in California by 35 Maple Street Spirits.
What does Uncle Val’s taste like? It is a soft, garden-forward gin with cucumber, lemon, sage, and lavender rather than heavy juniper, making it especially approachable.
Pull up a seat and give it a taste. Book a table, see our full gin list, or browse the beverage menu.