We use a well-seasoned wok to roast the coriander seeds used in Terroir Gin. (The wok we use was Lance’s 13th birthday present. It was on his wish list. Yes, he was an unusual child.) Coriander isn’t endemic to the Bay Area, but roasted coriander has an intoxicating earthy bouquet reminiscent of the region’s chaparral. On roasting days, the entire distillery is filled with the most fantastic aromas.

We distill the fir and sage individually on a 250-liter still to minimize the impact of seasonal variation. The fresh bay laurel leaves and juniper berries are vapor-infused in a botanicals basket. The other botanicals go right in the pot of our 1,500-liter still.