{{Short description|Brand of gin}}{{Infobox drink | name = Aviation American Gin | image = Aviation Gin Logo.png | caption = | type = [[Gin]] | abv = | proof = 84 | manufacturer = [[Diageo]] | distributor = | origin = [[Portland, Oregon]], United States | introduced = 2006 | discontinued = | colour = | flavour = | ingredients = | variants = | related = | website = {{URL|www.aviationgin.com}} | region = }}
[[File:Exterior of Aviation American Gin Distillery and Visitor Center 02.jpg|thumb|Exterior of Aviation American Gin Distillery and Visitor Center]]
'''Aviation American Gin''', also known as '''Aviation Gin''', is a brand of [[gin]] first produced in Portland, Oregon, by founders Christian Krogstad and Ryan Magarian in 2006. It is owned by the British-based [[Multinational corporation|multinational]] alcoholic beverage maker [[Diageo]].
It is produced by [[House Spirits Distillery]]. It is distributed nationwide in the United States and 15 other countries, including Canada, Spain, the UK, Ireland, France, Russia, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and Australia. Originally, it was bottled in a wine bottle with a blue label. The newer bottle, introduced in 2013, looks like a flask and is reminiscent of the [[Art Deco]] period, with a black label and a silver cap. In 2018, the company and label were bought by Canadian-American actor [[Ryan Reynolds]], who became its new owner and primary spokesman and sponsor.
==History== House Spirits Distillery sold the Aviation American Gin brand to New York-based distributor Davos Brands, LLC, in 2016,<ref name="oregonian-2016nov">{{cite news |last=Rogoway |first=Mike |title=Portland-based House Spirits sells flagship Aviation gin to Davos Brands |newspaper=[[The Oregonian]] |date=November 17, 2016 |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2016/11/portland-based_house_spirits_s.html |accessdate=March 6, 2018}}</ref> but as of early 2018, it continues to be distilled in Portland by House Spirits.<ref name="oregonian-2018feb">{{cite news |last=Butler |first=Grant |title=Actor Ryan Reynolds buys a stake in Portland-made Aviation Gin |newspaper=[[The Oregonian]] |date=February 27, 2018 |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2018/02/actor_ryan_reynolds_buys_a_sta.html |accessdate=March 6, 2018}}</ref> As of late 2016, Aviation Gin accounted for around 40 percent of House Spirits' production.<ref name="WW-2016nov">{{cite news |last1=Korfhage |first1=Matthew |title=Portland's Aviation Gin Just Got Sold Off to New York—Here's Why |newspaper=[[Willamette Week]] |date=November 17, 2016 |location=Portland, Oregon |url=http://www.wweek.com/bars/2016/11/17/portlands-aviation-gin-just-got-sold-off-to-new-york-heres-why/ |accessdate=March 6, 2018}}</ref>
Actor [[Ryan Reynolds]] acquired a stake in the brand from Davos in February 2018.<ref name="oregonian-2018feb"/><ref name="forbes">{{cite magazine |last=Robehmed |first=Natalie |title=Ryan Reynolds Buys Stake In Aviation Gin, Cashes In On Celebrity Liquor Rush |magazine=[[Forbes]] |date=February 21, 2018 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2018/02/21/ryan-reynolds-buys-stake-in-aviation-gin-cashes-in-on-celebrity-liquor-rush/#1eb69dc62473 |accessdate=March 6, 2018}}</ref> On August 17, 2020, Aviation was sold to [[Diageo]] for up to $610 million, whose liquor lineup includes the gin [[Tanqueray]], as well as [[Smirnoff]] vodka, and [[Johnnie Walker]] Scotch whisky. Reynolds still maintains an "ongoing ownership interest" in Aviation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Picchi |first1=Aimee |title=Ryan Reynolds' Aviation Gin sold to Diageo for up to $610 million |newspaper=[[CBS News]] |date=August 17, 2020 |location=USA |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ryan-reynolds-aviation-american-gin-bought-diageo/#app |accessdate=August 18, 2020}}</ref>
==Distillation== Seven flavoring ingredients are used in its production: [[juniper]], [[lavender]], [[Sweet orange|sweet]] and [[bitter orange]] peel, [[cardamom]], [[coriander]], [[Hemidesmus indicus|Indian sarsaparilla]], and [[anise|anise seed]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.drinkspirits.com/gin/top-10-new-american-gins/ |title=Top 10 New American Gins |first=Geoff |last=Kleinman |date=January 9, 2013 |website=Drink Spirits |accessdate=August 31, 2018}}</ref> which are steeped in grain spirit for 18 hours,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.aviationgin.com/#production/ |title=Aviation Gin Website |accessdate=May 2, 2024}}</ref> then re-distilled in a custom-built, 400-gallon [[pot still]]. Off the still, Aviation is about 140 [[U.S. proof]], and deionized [[Cascade Range|Cascade mountain]] water brings it down to 84 proof before bottling.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aviationgin.com/#production |title=Aviation Gin: Production |accessdate=March 4, 2024}}</ref>
== Promotion == In a 2018 sketch promoting the gin, Ryan Reynold's fake twin brother, Gordon Reynolds, compared the taste of Aviation American Gin to "like a sunrise had sex with a feather duster".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/ryan-reynold-apos-apos-twin-184600063.html | title=Ryan Reynold's 'Twin' Roasts His New Gin Company | date=8 June 2018 }}</ref>
Reynolds promotes the gin in various films he stars in, including ''[[Red Notice (film)|Red Notice]]'' and ''[[Deadpool 2]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hermanns |first1=Grant |date=18 May 2022 |title=Ryan Reynolds Sneaks All 4 Of His Brands Into Deadpool 2 Movie Update |url=https://screenrant.com/deadpool-3-update-image-ryan-reynolds-brands/ |access-date=19 May 2022 |website=ScreenRant}}</ref> Reynolds also promoted the gin in the [[Football club (association football)|football club]] that he owns, [[Wrexham A.F.C.]], with Aviation signing a sleeve and training kit sponsorship deal with the club.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2021 |title=COMMERCIAL {{!}} Aviation American Gin extend commercial relationship with Wrexham AFC |url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2021/july/commercial--aviation-american-gin-extend-commercial-relationship-with-wrexham-afc/ |access-date=December 27, 2023 |website=[[Wrexham A.F.C.]] |language=en-gb}}</ref>
==Awards and reviews== ''[[Wine Enthusiast Magazine|Wine Enthusiast]]'' magazine awarded Aviation American Gin a 97-point rating in 2012,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/aviation-gin/ |title=Aviation Gin |first=Kara |last=Newman |date=January 4, 2012 |magazine=Wine Enthusiast |accessdate=August 31, 2018}}</ref> the highest rating the magazine has given to any gin.<ref name="oregonian-2018feb"/>
<gallery mode="packed" heights="135"> File:Welcome desk at Aviation American Gin Distillery and Visitor Center.jpg|Welcome desk at distillery, with cutout of Ryan Reynolds File:Bar at Aviation American Gin Visitor Center.jpg|Bar at distillery File:Aromatics sampling space for tour of Aviation American Gin Distillery tour.jpg|Aromatics sampling space for tour File:Aviation American Gin Distillery 02.jpg|Production stills File:Aviation American Gin Distillery 04.jpg|Production stills File:Aviation American Gin Distillery filling line 02.jpg|Filling line File:Aviation American Gin warehouse 2.jpg|Gin in storage at warehouse File:Escape room themed as Ryan Reynolds on Aviation American Gin Distillery tour.jpg|Bar in escape room themed as Ryan Reynolds's office on distillery tour </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|http://www.aviationgin.com}}
{{Diageo plc}}{{Alcoholic drinks}} [[Category:Diageo brands]] [[Category:Gins]] [[Category:American brands]] [[Category:2006 establishments in Oregon]]