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Image:Bottle retouched.JPG|Bottle of DH Krahn Gin
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DH Krahn Official Website

DH Krahn, an ultra premium gin that was recently named by the Beverage Testing Institute as the “Top Rated Gin of 2006,” has launched into the U.S. market.

DH Krahn is single-distilled in small batches for a clean, crisp, smooth and uncomplicated flavor. To achieve this, DH Krahn sources a small, select bundle of the freshest and most select botanicals from around the world and combines them in precise quantities.

By selecting fewer ingredients and concentrating on the quality and freshness of each, DH Krahn is able to produce a spirit with a uniquely clean and crisp flavor profile. The sophisticated taste of DH Krahn is achieved through a blend of Jumbo Italian Juniper Berries, Moroccan Coriander Seed, Floridian Oranges, Californian Lemon and Grapefruit and rounded out with a touch of Thai Ginger.

DH Krahn is batch distilled in Stupfler Alambic pot stills, which are known as the “Rolls Royce” of copper Alambics. The stills were created in Bordeaux, France entirely by the hands of Jean-Louis Stupfler, a third generation still builder and France’s finest coppersmith. The stills are built exclusively for the DH Krahn distillery and are the only ones of their kind in all of the Americas.

This unique system allows DH Krahn to produce its gin in a single pass on the still - a process that is unlike that used for any other gin in the world. By avoiding multiple distillations, DH Krahn is able to preserve the fragile aromas and precious essential oils of the botanicals – essences that are lost each time a spirit is re-distilled. Also, by distilling in small batches, DH Krahn is able to pinpoint the exact formulation of this quality gin each and every time.

DH Krahn utilizes a secret and proprietary technique for extraction of botanical essences. After distilling, DH Krahn is rested in steel barrels for at least three months prior to bottling.

The Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) recently named DH Krahn the “Top Rated Gin of 2006” at its International Review of Spirits Competition, awarding the gin the Gold Medal, with 94 out of a possible 100 points. In announcing the recognition, Jerald O’Kennard, Director of BTI, noted, “DH Krahn successfully achieves what many new gins on the market have not: a deliciously flavorful gin that retains the traditional juniper character of London dry gin, while being so delicate and approachable as to appeal to vodka and other drinkers who would normally never try gin. A very difficult combination that it really nails.”

BTI described the flavor of DH Krahn as featuring “subtle citrus, banana custard and mild botanical aromas. DH Krahn gin has a soft, round entry, that as consumed, leads to a super smooth, dryish light-to-medium-bodied palate with delicate flavors of powdered sugar, dusted lemon peels, talc, peppery spices, mild juniper and lemon blossom water notes.”

Available initially in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut tri-state region, DH Krahn will be distributed nationally in 2007. DH Krahn carries a suggested retail price of $26.99 for 750 ml bottle and is sold at fine liquor stores, bars and clubs throughout the region.

“As interest in well-crafted cocktails has re-emerged, the need for high-quality, superbly distilled gins has increased,” says Chad Solomon, DH Krahn mixologist. “We are entering a period of time where gin is on the rise, as the limitations of vodka are being realized by the consumer who is looking for a superior cocktail experience. The high quality of DH Krahn, achieved by the painstaking approach that was undertaken to produce this gin, provides for a spirit that superbly interprets classic gin recipes, transforming them into a truly new and unique experience.”

DH Krahn was developed by Dave Hughes and Scott Krahn. Krahn, a native of Calgary, Alberta, and Dave Hughes, a New York native and older brother of Olympic figure skaters Sarah and Emily Hughes, first met in college at Cornell University, where both played on the school’s Division 1 hockey team. The idea for DH Krahn initially took form when the pair were still in college.

“We knew through experience and our market research that gin was far from being the favored spirit among young adults,” says Hughes. “Vodka dominated the marketplace and still does. But it was readily apparent to us that interest in cocktails as an art form was increasing and vodka, despite its popularity, was not a suitable spirit for high-quality cocktails.”

“We were also faced with the intriguing challenge of trying to change the opinion of young adults about gin,” says Krahn. “Our peers see gin as a spirit for an older generation. They were intimated by its flavor and complexity. But at the same time, we saw a subtle change emerging among men and women. There’s a growing sophistication taking place. Young adults are beginning to appreciate quality and want to sample the finer things in life. This coupled with their interest in well made cocktails, we felt, represented a great opportunity for introducing this generation to the unique qualities of gin.”

Hughes and Krahn set out to not only make a high quality artisanal spirit, but to develop a gin brand that had unique relevance to young adults. Existing brands, the pair felt, did not attempt to speak directly to the needs or interests of adults who were developing an interest in quality cocktails.

“Current gin brands are more focused on establishing an aspirational image that the consumer must ‘buy into’ rather than reflecting the lifestyle or needs of young adults, “says Krahn. “This approach unintentionally reinforces the perception among these consumers that gin is complex, unapproachable and ultimately not for them. Our desire is to change that perception and introduce these consumers to what is truly the ideal clear spirit for superior cocktails.”


“That is the idea behind the tag line we established for DH Krahn – “refreshingly simple’,” says Hughes. “It is both an apt description of the flavor profile of our gin and intended to communicate what we feel our brand represents for our target customer – that life is best enjoyed when it is kept simple.”

To that end, DH Krahn has developed its website as a lifestyle reference and guide. In addition to information on DH Krahn gin and a listing of retail availability, the website includes advice on dating and relationships, fashion and style from menswear designer Bryan Wang, music from artist and producer DJ Honda and entertaining tips and signature cocktails from mixologist Chad Solomon. The website also lists the dates and locations for invitation only pouring events that DH Krahn will be hosting throughout New York City. The website can be accessed at www.dhkrahn.com