What do you get when you combine an electrical engineer and marine biologist with a love of distilled spirits? The newest distillery in the region, where botanically-infused gin is crafted by business partners with science and engineering backgrounds.
These erudite elixirs are made by infusing a gin base with juniper, citrus peel, edible flowers and other herbs and spices. Four styles of gin are available, including Salty Tart, Big Ben, Death by Stereo and Midtown. Each presents its own distinct flavor. Death by Stereo for example – named after a line from the movie Lost Boys – is a botanical gin with hearty Meyer lemon and bay leaf flavors. Midtown’s notes are reminiscent of petrichor, brought to the palate by aromatic bay leaf, juniper, and peppery spice. Salty Tart is citrus-forward, combining Buddha’s hand with zesty juniper and fresh grapefruit flavors. Big Ben is the more customary gin, described as a London Dry and serves to counterbalance the more flavorful versions on the tasting menu. The bottes are adorned with labels hand-drawn by a Santa Cruz tattoo artist, depicting ocean-inspired artwork featuring octopus tentacles against a splashy background.
Tours of Fathom Spirits are available on Saturdays, followed by a private tasting.