NIAGARA COLLEGE
Small batch, big appeal: Niagara College Teaching Distillery releases first student-crafted gin

Niagara College Teaching Distillery is ready to stir up the cocktail scene with the release of its first student crafted gin, a classic blend with a modern twist.

School Spirits Small Batch Gin will make its debut on May 11. The gin is a culmination of eight months of experiential learning for Niagara College's class of 16 Artisan Distilling students, who recently completed the program and will be Canada's first graduates to earn this postsecondary credential when they cross the convocation stage in June. The gin is the third product released by Teaching Distillery bearing the School Spirits label, following its first vodka in late March and an Eau-de-vie de Fruits in mid-January.

"The eyes of a nation are on our Teaching Distillery and our first class of Artisan Distilling graduates, who are poised to succeed and lead Canada's growing craft distilling industry," said Steve Gill, general manager of NC's Learning Enterprises. "With the first two School Spirits products selling out quickly, the first gin has been highly anticipated."

College distiller David Dickson is pleased with new product. The 40% alcohol craft gin is comprised of a special blend of high-quality botanicals, giving the product classic gin notes with a craft gin feel.

"The goal was to create a gin that walks the line between a classic gin and the new wave of gins being released in Ontario," said Dickson. "We have used an interesting assortment of botanicals but kept the proportion of juniper relatively high, which will allow our gin to be used in a wide range of classic cocktails while leaving room for creativity."

Learning to make gin was an important experience for the students. Dickson noted that it is not only a primary focus of production at some distilleries, but many craft distilleries are creating gin - which can be produced quickly - to bring in revenue while producing other spirits that require barrel aging. The spirit is also experiencing a resurgence in popularity.

"Gin is one of the fastest growing spirit categories and is directly tied to the interest and creativity of the modern cocktail scene," said Dickson. "Gin can be produced quickly and can have an interesting flavour profile decided upon by the distiller, giving the distiller freedom to be creative."

To create the gin, students used their sensory knowledge and skills in mashing, fermentation and distillation. A base spirit - which originated from several sources, including the Teaching Distillery's rum (dark brown sugar) and whisky (corn and barley) bases - was distilled into a neutral spirit, then added to polyvalent stills along with a botanical blend. The spirit was then distilled allowing the volatile flavour compounds to vaporize within the still and collected with the distillate.

For Matthew Macpherson, who recently completed the Artisan Distilling program, creating gin for the Teaching Distillery was a great way to end the academic year. "Learning about selecting botanicals as well as gaining a better understanding of recipe development and gin distillation provided valuable skills for us moving into careers as distillers," said Macpherson, who has been hired as a distiller at a new craft distillery to open in Ottawa this summer. "This collaboration by first year students and teaching staff allowed us to produce a gin that is unique to Niagara College and the Artisan Distilling program."

School Spirits Small Batch Gin is available at NC's Wine Visitor + Education Centre (135 Taylor Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON) while supplies last, priced at $28.10 for a 375-ml bottle. Proceeds from sales support student learning.

Niagara College's Teaching Distillery is a 2,500-square-foot facility equipped with five stills, four mash tuns and 10 fermenters. Home to the College's Artisan Distilling program, students will produce a variety of distilled products including vodka, gin, brandy, rum, whisky and other spirits. It opened in September 2018, completing the trifecta of beverage fermentation sciences at NC's learning enterprises, following the footsteps of its Teaching Winery and Teaching Brewery which were also the first of their kind in Canada.

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca