Uncle Val's Botanical Gin 750ML is a 45% ABV American gin built on cucumber, lavender, sage, lemon, and juniper botanicals steeped into a five-times-distilled corn spirit. It earned 96 points from The Tasting Panel, placing it among the highest-rated botanical gins produced in the United States.Quick Facts: ABV: 45% (90 Proof) | Origin: California, USA (Bottled in Bend, Oregon) | Style: American Botanical Gin | Distillery: 35 Maple Street Distillery (3 Badge Beverage)Production & HeritageUncle Val's Botanical Gin begins as a neutral corn spirit distilled five times using purified aquifer water sourced from the Sonoran desert. Rather than vapor infusion or direct pot-still distillation with botanicals, this expression uses an immersion-bag method — large mesh bags filled with juniper, cucumber, lemon, sage, and lavender are steeped in the spirit for several hours, with certain botanicals left in contact longer to strengthen specific aromatic signatures. After infusion, the gin is filtered through both activated carbon and lava rock (pumice), a dual-filtration approach that contributes to the spirit's notably clean, soft texture. Originally produced at 35 Maple Street Distillery in California, the brand now falls under the 3 Badge Beverage portfolio and is bottled in Bend, Oregon.Tasting NotesAroma: The nose opens with lemon blossom and orange citrus, followed by cool cucumber and a thread of lavender. Underneath sits a gentle piney juniper note and a whisper of herbal sage that ties the bouquet together.Taste: The palate enters with bright Meyer lemon and tangerine zest before shifting to dilute cucumber water and soft floral lavender at mid-palate. A warm, almost peppery sage spice builds through the back, with juniper remaining a supporting player rather than the lead. The overall impression is complex yet restrained — each botanical occupies its own space without crowding the others.Finish: Medium in length, finishing with lingering lavender warmth and a faint citrus brightness. The lava-rock filtration leaves a notably smooth, almost silky texture on the close.How to Drink Uncle Val's BotanicalNeat or slightly chilled, the gin reveals its full botanical layering and rewards slow sipping. A single large ice cube opens up the cucumber and lavender without dulling the citrus. In cocktails, Uncle Val's Botanical shines in three key builds: Gin & Tonic: The cucumber-lavender profile pairs naturally with a dry tonic, producing a refreshing G&T that needs only a thin cucumber ribbon as garnish. Bee's Knees: Honey syrup amplifies the sage and lavender notes while fresh lemon juice mirrors the gin's native citrus character. French 75: The bright lemon entry and floral mid-palate integrate cleanly with champagne, creating an aromatic, effervescent cocktail. Best For Gin drinkers transitioning from Hendrick's who want bolder botanical complexity Warm-weather entertaining where cucumber-forward cocktails anchor the menu Gifting someone who appreciates small-batch American craft spirits Building a home bar with a versatile, food-friendly gin Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does Uncle Val's Botanical taste like? It leads with bright lemon and cool cucumber, transitions through soft lavender and sage at mid-palate, and finishes with gentle warmth and a smooth, clean texture. Juniper is present but deliberately understated, making this a contemporary botanical-forward gin.How does Uncle Val's Botanical compare to Hendrick's Gin? Both gins feature cucumber and floral elements, but Uncle Val's Botanical pushes sage and lavender further forward while Hendrick's leans on rose petal and a more prominent juniper backbone. Uncle Val's is also slightly higher in proof at 45% ABV versus Hendrick's 44%, and uses a distinctly different production method — immersion-bag infusion rather than a Carter-Head still.Is Uncle Val's Botanical good for sipping neat? Yes — the five-times-distilled corn base and dual carbon-and-pumice filtration produce a smooth, soft spirit that drinks easily without a mixer, especially when served slightly chilled.Where is Uncle Val's Botanical made? Uncle Val's Botanical Gin was originally created at 35 Maple Street Distillery in California and is now part of the 3 Badge Beverage portfolio, with current bottling taking place in Bend, Oregon.What foods pair well with Uncle Val's Botanical? Chilled shrimp cocktail benefits from the gin's cucumber and lemon lift. Goat cheese crostini echoes the herbal sage note. Grilled white fish with lemon butter mirrors the citrus core. Light salads dressed with herb vinaigrette complement the lavender and sage. Smoked salmon's richness is cut by the gin's bright acidity.What sizes does Uncle Val's Botanical come in? The standard bottle is 750ml, which is the most widely available format.Is Uncle Val's Botanical worth the price? Uncle Val's Botanical positions as a premium craft gin, sitting above mass-market London Drys but below ultra-premium small-batch releases. Its 96-point score from The Tasting Panel, five-times-distilled base, and unique immersion-bag botanical infusion support strong value within the premium American gin tier.Why Uncle Val's Botanical?What separates this gin from the crowded botanical category is the immersion-bag infusion technique — a method that extracts flavor gently, without the heat exposure of direct still-distillation, resulting in delicate aromatics that hold together rather than blur. The dual filtration through activated carbon and volcanic pumice is uncommon in American gin production and contributes measurably to the spirit's clean, silky mouthfeel. A 96-point rating from The Tasting Panel validates the approach as more than novelty. For drinkers who find traditional juniper-heavy gins too assertive but want something more nuanced than flavored vodka, Uncle Val's Botanical occupies a distinct and well-earned position in the American craft gin landscape.
