California Dream Gin is James May’s fifth glorious foray into gin-making, crafted as a loving (and mildly satirical) tribute to the spirit of 1970s California—the land of hippies, herbal teas, anti-establishment ideals, and questionable fashion choices.
Distilled with girolle mushrooms, oregano, and actual patchouli, this gin is as earthy and ethereal as a barefoot jam session in Golden Gate Park. The mushrooms lend a fruity, peppery character with subtle apricot sweetness, while patchouli adds a haunting woody aroma that lingers like a memory of incense in a Volkswagen camper van. Oregano provides a culinary counterpoint, deepening the herbal body and tying the coriander, lemon peel, and juniper together with a spicy twist.
