Opened in 2019, the Bently Heritage Estate Distillery campus just east of Lake Tahoe in Nevada is the very first estate distillery in the U.S. to complete the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification process.
The distillery is ultimately planning to release a versatile whisky collection, but for now, their whisky is resting and aging to perfection, as Master Distiller Johnny Jeffery says, “it’ll rest until it’s good and ready.” While waiting for the whisky to age, the team at Bently Heritage came up with an award-winning portfolio of spirits including Source One Vodka, Juniper Grove Gin, and Hecate Liqueurs.
Looking at the campus, Bently Heritage’s on-site Public House and single malt whisky operation are housed in a historic 1906 flour mill while the vodka, gin, and American style whiskies are produced in a historic 1916 creamery. Also on the property is Well One, which was the first well built in the town of Minden. The well is fed by the high Sierra snowmelt and dedicated solely to the distillery.
In Nevada, to be considered an “estate” distillery, 85% of the distillery’s raw materials must come from land owned or controlled by the distillery. One-hundred percent of the grain used in Bently Heritage spirits – including wheat, rye, barley, corn, and oats – are grown by its sister company Bently Ranch, which also experiments with cultivating some of its own botanicals in a climate-controlled greenhouse.
Bently Heritage’s award-winning, estate spirits include:
- Source One Vodka – a single-estate vodka that is a blend of wheat and oats. It has a rich mouthfeel and finishes clean and bright. The spirit is twice-distilled to perfection, and is then finished in copper pot stills. This spirit has all the hallmarks of a classic vodka, with just a bit more body provided by the estate grown oats.
- Source One Vodka Rested in Oak Sherry Casks – a classic wheat and oat blend vodka is twice-distilled and aged for about 30 days in Spanish Oloroso sherry oak casks giving it a rich and deep color, similar to whisky. This unique expression of Source One drinks like whisky, but has the smoothness of a vodka.
- Juniper Grove Atrium Gin – a beautiful floral-forward, new-world gin made from 10 botanicals. It’s produced in small batches, finished in copper stills, and triple-distilled to perfection. It has tasting notes of a bouquet of grapefruit and candied orange peel that evolve into a flower-forward experience with hints of lavender, root, and spice.
- Juniper Grove American Dry Gin – is Bently Heritage’s take on a traditional London dry gin with bright citrus notes. Made from five botanicals, it’s aromas blossom on the nose from a combination of botanicals blended into the distillate.
Ready to give one a try? Here are 5 cocktails from top bartenders made with Bently Heritage Estate Distillery spirits.
Juniper Grove by Tito Ortega from Playa Mesa in Costa Mesa, CA
Created by bartender Tito Ortega , the Playa Playa Mesa in Costa Mesa, California is a flavorful blend of Juniper Grove Gin Atrium, green chartreuse, açaí liqueur and lime, with Luxardo Maraschino, a spray of absinthe and Fee Foam bitters.
- 1.5 Oz Juniper Grove Gin Atrium
- .5 Oz Green Chartreuse
- .5 Oz Cedilla Acai Liqueur
- 1 oz Lime
- .5 Luxardo Maraschino
- Spray of Absinthe
- Fee Foam Bitters
- Angostura Bitters
All ingredients are built in the shaker except for the angostura bitters and absinthe spray. Once built, dry shake then shake with ice, strain, onto a coupe rinsed with the spray of absinthe. Then garnish with angostura bitters.
428 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627; www.playamesa.com; @playamesa
Flora & Fauna 75 from Melina Meza at The Draycott in Pacific Palisades, CA
At The Draycott in Pacific Palisades, Melina Meza mixes up this tipple using Source One Vodka, chamomile cordial – and a decidedly tropical ingredient: soursop.
“I really wanted to highlight an out of the ordinary fruit paired with an extraordinary spirit to create a special cocktail,” explains Meza. “Soursop is a tropical Caribbean fruit that is reminiscent of a cross between an apple and a strawberry. It’s custard like texture adds a unique creamy mouthfeel that pairs perfectly with the oat nuances in Source One Vodka. This riff on a French 75 oozes sophistication with floral notes and a delicious tropical flavor.”
- 1.5 oz Source One Vodka
- .5 oz Chamomile Cordial
- 1 bar spoon Soursop
- .75 oz Meyer Lemon Juice
- 2 dashes Lavender Bitters
- *Top with Champagne
Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin (minus the champagne) and dry shake vigorously. Add ice to the tin and shake again. Fine strain into a coupe glass. Top with champagne and garnish with a rose petal and enjoy!
15255 Palisades Village Ln, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272; www.thedraycott.com; @the_draycott
Back to Back from Saeed House at Ever Back in Hollywood, CA
Los Angeles based bartender Saeed “Hawk” House uses a blueberry hibiscus-infused Juniper Grove Gin as the base in this simple but complex cocktail.
“Using The Republic of Tea: Hibiscus Blueberry Tea, I infused the Juniper Grove Gin to bring a subtle fruitiness to the already citrus-forward gin,” says House. “Then I paired it with some mint, lime, and simple syrup to stay along the lines of a traditional Southside. Lastly, I took it a step further by adding a touch of Aperol to complement those tangy notes coming from the hibiscus tea. This is most definitely one of those sit by the window enjoy the sun indoors kinda cocktail.”
- 2 oz Blueberry Hibiscus Tea Infused Juniper Grove Gin*
- 5-6 Mint Leaves
- 1 oz Lime Juice
- .75 oz Simple Syrup (1:1)
- .5 oz Aperol
- Float of Soda Water
*Blueberry Hibiscus Tea Juniper Grove Gin Infusion
- 2 Hibiscus Blueberry Tea Bags
- 6 oz of Juniper Grove Gin
Steep teabags in gin for 30-45 minutes. Remove teabags and squeeze to get the excess liquid. Store infusion in a cool place.
Combine all ingredients in mixing tin except soda water. Add ice and shake. Double strain into Collins glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with mint.
1800 Argyle Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028; www.everbarla.com; @everbarla
The White Negroni from Sean Sitt at Chapel Tavern in Reno, NV
At Chapel Tavern in Reno, Nevada, Sean Stitt gets creative with his riff on the classic Negroni. Made with Juniper Grove Atrium Gin, Tempus Fugit Kina L’Aero and vermouth, the White Negroni is made with equal parts for a variation that won’t disappoint.
- 1 oz Juniper Grove Atrium Gin
- 1 oz Tempus Fugit Kina L’Aero
- 1 oz Vermouth
Add ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice, and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel.
1099 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502; www.chapeltavern.com: @chapeltavern
Dusk Rising from Lucas Huff at Public House in Minden, NV
As the Director of Brand Advocacy for Bently Heritage Estate Distillery, Lucas Huff (@thebartendersfable) says, “The Dusk Rising is a refresher that was built to enhance the beautiful floral notes of the Juniper Grove Atrium gin. It’s herbaceous, floral, and fruity, with just a touch of bitter & citrus to round everything out.”
- 1.5 oz Juniper Grove Gin Atrium
- .5 oz Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
- .5 oz Elderflower Syrup
- .25 oz Aperol
- .25 oz Lemon Juice
- Garnish with mint and a dehydrated blood orange wheel
Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake with ice. Strain into your favorite stemmed glass and garnish with a small mint sprig and grapefruit twist.
1601 Water St, Minden, NV 89423; www.bentlyheritage.com; @bentlyheritagedistillery
For more details on Bently Heritage Estate Distillery and their collection of estate spirits, visit BentlyHeritage.com.
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