This Scottish Whisky Maker Decided to Try Their Hand at Gin

Though it hails from rugged Islay, it’s actually quite floral and a bit citrusy.

The peripatetic Shaun Layton—last seen heeding the siren call of his spiritual home of Spain—has ceded the reins of his perfectly crafted space at Juniper to Max Borrowman, lately of nearby Torafuku and, like Layton, an obsessive of gin. We asked Borrowman to choose a bottle and a drink to kick off his tenure.

The Bottle: The Botanist, $46

Created by Scottish whisky maker Bruichladdich, the premium gin may hail from rugged Islay, but it’s actually quite floral and a bit citrusy. And now that our craft distillers have gotten us used to the idea of $50 for a bottle of gin, it’s a reasonable deal, to boot.

The Drink: Spirit of Manitou

By Max Borrowman, bar managerat Juniper Kitchen and Bar

1½ oz Botanist gin

½ oz Legend Distilling Manitou orange and sumac liqueur

½ oz Fino sherry

1 dash Cascade celery bitters

Stirred on ice. Serve straight up in a martini glass and garnish with a grapefruit twist.