Gray Whale Gin Founders Marsh and Jan Mokhtari have a built a consciously crafted, award-winning brand that celebrates and protects its namesake
Photography by Daniel Gorostieta
Gray Whale Gin believes a lovingly handcrafted spirit brings people together for good times, and while together, they can also do some good in the world. It’s a simple notion that was cooked up on a camping trip to Big Sur by founders Marsh and Jan Mokhtari. They were humbled by California’s stunning beauty, feeling lucky to be on its rocky coast, surrounded by ancient trees and the endless blue of the Pacific Ocean. Looking out past McWay Falls at the turquoise sea, they saw a gray whale and its calf on their own road trip up north — a trip gray whales have been making for more than 30 million years. Every bottle of Gray Whale Gin supports Oceana, protecting and restoring the world’s oceans, so that gray whales will continue to make that epic journey for another 30 million years
Proceeds For Protection
One percent of all Gray Whale Gin sales go to environmental causes, including Oceana — the largest organization in the world solely devoted to marine conservation.
Whale Flower
Ingredients
2 oz Gray Whale Gin
½ oz elderflower liqueur
2 oz grapefruit juice
Soda water
Grapefruit wedge for garnish
Lavender sprig for garnish
Instructions
Combine Gray Whale Gin, elderflower liqueur and grapefruit juice into a shaker with ice and shake. Strain finely into a glass over fresh ice and add a splash of soda water. Garnish with grapefruit wedge and lavender sprig.
Golden State of Mind
Ingredients
1½ oz Gray Whale Gin
¾ oz Aperol
½ oz fresh lemon juice
¼ oz simple syrup
2 oz grapefruit kombuch
Instructions
Combine all ingredients, except kombucha, into a shaking tin. Shake and then pour cocktail over ice in a Collins glass. Top with grapefruit kombucha and garnish with a grapefruit peel.
Frozen Whale Hello There
Ingredients
1½ oz Gray Whale Gin
1¼ oz simple syrup
½ oz lemon juice
¼ oz lime juice
2½ oz ice cubes
Instructions
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend for 30 seconds.
Tropical Whale
Ingredients
1 oz Gray Whale Gin
1 oz Cognac
1 oz Velvet Falernum
¾ oz pineapple juice
3 dashes Angostura Bitters
Pineapple frond
Instructions
Combine all ingredients (minus bitters) in cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 3-4 seconds. Strain over fresh ice in Collins/Tiki glass. Garnish with 3 hard shakes of Angostura Bitters and top with a pineapple frond.
Ruby Fizz
Ingredients
2 oz Gray Whale Gin
5 oz blood orange juice
Instructions
Shake with ice. Strain over ice. Top with soda water. Garnish with blood orange slices.
A 'Whole Lotta' Pina Colada
Ingredients
2 oz Gray Whale Gin
1 oz orange liqueur
1 oz coconut cream
½ oz ginger syrup
½ oz lime juice
2 oz pineapple juice
1 egg white (optional)
Instructions
In a shaker filled with ice, pour in Gray Whale Gin and the other ingredients. Shake vigorously and strain into glass. In a bowl, whip the egg white until foamy. Scoop egg white foam on top of cocktail, garnish with a pineapple wedge and enjoy! CS