How to Sip Local Gins at MashCraft Brewing in Indianapolis

Indianapolis has emerged as a vibrant hub for craft distilling and brewing, with a growing community of local artisans redefining what it means to enjoy spirits and beer in the heart of the Midwest. Among these innovators, MashCraft Brewing stands out—not just as a brewery, but as a pioneering venue that blends the art of craft beer with the sophistication of small-batch gin production. While many associate MashCraft with hop-forward ales and barrel-aged stouts, fewer realize that their curated selection of locally distilled gins offers an equally compelling experience for spirits enthusiasts. Sipping local gin at MashCraft isn’t just about tasting a drink—it’s about engaging with the terroir, tradition, and creativity of Indiana’s distilling renaissance.

This guide is designed for the curious drinker, the local foodie, the gin novice, and the seasoned connoisseur alike. Whether you’re visiting Indianapolis for the first time or are a longtime resident looking to deepen your appreciation of regional spirits, this tutorial will walk you through the full experience of sipping local gins at MashCraft Brewing. You’ll learn how to navigate their gin offerings, understand the flavor profiles shaped by Midwestern botanicals, pair them thoughtfully with food and ambiance, and discover the stories behind each bottle. This isn’t a generic guide to gin tasting—it’s a deep dive into a uniquely Indianapolis experience.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Understand the Distinction Between Craft Gin and Commercial Gin

Before you even step into MashCraft Brewing, it’s essential to understand what sets craft gin apart from mass-produced alternatives. Commercial gins are often distilled using neutral grain spirits and flavored with a standardized blend of botanicals, primarily juniper, coriander, and citrus peel. These are designed for consistency and volume, not nuance.

In contrast, craft gins—like those produced by local distillers featured at MashCraft—are made in small batches, often using locally foraged or grown botanicals. This means the flavor profile reflects the season, the soil, and the region. At MashCraft, you may encounter gins infused with native Indiana juniper berries, wild bergamot from the Hoosier National Forest, or even locally grown lavender from Shelby County. These ingredients impart subtle, earthy, or floral notes that you simply won’t find in a bottle from a national distributor.

Understanding this distinction prepares you to appreciate the complexity of what you’re about to taste. It transforms the act of sipping from a casual drink into a sensory exploration.

Step 2: Visit MashCraft Brewing at the Right Time

Timing matters. MashCraft Brewing operates with a schedule that prioritizes both brewing cycles and guest experience. To fully enjoy their gin offerings, aim to visit on a weekday afternoon between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., or on weekends during their “Gin & Botanicals Hour” from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. These windows are when the tasting flights are most likely to be available, and staff are typically less rushed, allowing for more personalized guidance.

Avoid peak dinner hours (7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) if your goal is to learn and savor. Crowds can make it difficult to engage with the team or fully appreciate the aromas and textures of each gin. Additionally, check their website or social media for special events—monthly “Gin Maker Nights” often feature live distillers presenting their creations, offering rare opportunities to taste experimental batches not available to the public.

Step 3: Request the Local Gin Tasting Flight

Upon arrival, approach the bar and ask for the “Local Gin Tasting Flight.” This curated selection typically includes three to five small pours (0.5 oz each) of gins distilled within 100 miles of Indianapolis. The flight changes monthly based on availability and seasonal botanical harvests.

Don’t hesitate to ask the bartender for recommendations. Mention if you prefer citrus-forward, floral, spicy, or earthy profiles. The staff at MashCraft are trained in spirit appreciation and can tailor the flight to your palate. For example, if you enjoy gin and tonics with a twist of lime, they might include a gin with pronounced citrus peel notes. If you’re drawn to herbal complexity, they’ll select one infused with rosemary, thyme, or even wild mint.

Each pour is served in a stemmed tasting glass designed to concentrate aromas. Take a moment to observe the clarity, color (some gins are lightly tinted by botanicals), and viscosity before smelling.

Step 4: Engage Your Senses—Smell, Sip, Savor

Begin by holding the glass at a slight angle and gently swirling the gin. This releases volatile aromatic compounds. Bring the glass to your nose and inhale slowly through your nose, not your mouth. Notice the first impression: Is it bright and zesty? Deep and piney? Or perhaps warm with spice?

Now take a small sip. Let the gin rest on your tongue for 3–5 seconds. Pay attention to the initial flavor, the mid-palate development, and the finish. Does the juniper dominate? Is there a lingering sweetness from honeyed botanicals? Do you detect a faint earthiness from root herbs?

At MashCraft, many of the gins are bottled at cask strength (50% ABV or higher), meaning the alcohol is more pronounced. Don’t gulp—sip slowly. The higher proof allows the botanicals to express themselves more fully, but it also demands patience. After swallowing, exhale gently through your nose. This “retronasal olfaction” enhances your perception of flavor and often reveals hidden notes like dried citrus rind, toasted coriander, or even a whisper of smoked oak from barrel aging.

Step 5: Pair with Food and Atmosphere

MashCraft’s kitchen offers small plates designed to complement their spirits. Ask for a pairing suggestion with your gin flight. Popular combinations include:

• Juniper-forward gin with smoked trout crostini and pickled ramps
• Floral gin with goat cheese tartlet and wildflower honey
• Spiced gin with spiced pecans and dark chocolate truffles

These pairings aren’t arbitrary. They’re crafted to either contrast or enhance the gin’s profile. The saltiness of the trout cuts through the botanical intensity; the honey’s sweetness echoes the floral notes; the spice in the pecans mirrors the warming spices in the gin.

Equally important is the ambiance. Sit near a window if the weather permits. Natural light enhances visual appreciation of color and clarity. Choose a quiet corner if you’re focused on tasting. Avoid loud music or crowded tables—your senses will thank you.

Step 6: Ask for the Story Behind Each Gin

Each gin on the flight has a maker, a story, and a process. Don’t just drink—ask. “Where were the botanicals sourced?” “Was this batch aged?” “What inspired the recipe?”

For instance, you might learn that one gin was created by a former Indianapolis chef who used herbs from his backyard garden after recovering from illness. Another might be distilled using water drawn from a spring on a family-owned farm in Brown County. These stories humanize the spirit and deepen your connection to it.

MashCraft often displays QR codes next to each bottle. Scan them to access short videos or interviews with the distillers. This digital layer adds context and authenticity to your experience.

Step 7: Take Notes and Reflect

Keep a small notebook or use your phone’s notes app to record your impressions. Note the name of the gin, the distiller, the dominant botanicals, your flavor observations, and how it paired with food. Over time, you’ll begin to recognize patterns—what you consistently enjoy, what surprises you, and what you’d like to try again.

This practice transforms casual tasting into a meaningful hobby. You’re not just drinking gin—you’re building a personal archive of Indiana’s craft spirit landscape.

Step 8: Purchase a Bottle to Continue the Experience

Many of the gins featured in the tasting flight are available for purchase by the bottle. Ask if the distiller offers limited releases or exclusive bottlings only available at MashCraft. These are often numbered, seasonal, or commemorative editions.

Buying a bottle isn’t just a souvenir—it’s an investment in local craftsmanship. You’re supporting a small business, preserving a unique flavor profile, and extending your experience beyond the bar. Store your bottle in a cool, dark place. Once opened, consume within 6–8 months to preserve the integrity of the botanicals.

Best Practices

Practice 1: Always Taste at Room Temperature

Chilled gin may seem refreshing, but cold temperatures mute the aromatic compounds that define craft spirits. Serve your gin at 60–65°F (15–18°C) to allow the full spectrum of flavors to emerge. If you prefer a cooler drink, use large, slow-melting ice cubes or a single sphere to minimize dilution.

Practice 2: Use Proper Glassware

While MashCraft provides appropriate tasting glasses, if you’re enjoying gin at home, opt for a tulip-shaped glass or a copa de balon. These shapes trap aromas better than a standard rocks glass or wine glass. Avoid narrow highballs unless you’re making a long drink.

Practice 3: Cleanse Your Palate Between Sips

Between different gins, sip still water or eat a plain cracker. Avoid strong flavors like coffee, citrus, or spicy foods between tastings. This prevents flavor carryover and ensures each gin is evaluated on its own merits.

Practice 4: Don’t Assume Juniper Is the Star

Many assume gin is defined solely by juniper. While it’s legally required to be present, in craft gins, it often plays a supporting role. Some Indiana gins use juniper as a base note, while others let rosehip, elderflower, or even wild ginger take center stage. Keep an open mind and let the spirit reveal itself.

Practice 5: Explore Seasonal Variations

Just as wine changes with the vintage, gin changes with the harvest. A gin made in spring may feature fresh dandelion and violet, while a fall batch might include roasted sassafras and black walnut. Visit MashCraft multiple times throughout the year to experience how the seasons influence flavor.

Practice 6: Respect the Alcohol Content

Craft gins often have higher ABV than standard 40% bottlings. Pace yourself. Sip slowly, hydrate between pours, and never drive after tasting multiple high-proof spirits. The goal is appreciation, not intoxication.

Practice 7: Share the Experience

Bring a friend and split a tasting flight. Compare notes. Debate flavors. The social dimension of tasting enhances memory and enjoyment. It also encourages thoughtful dialogue about craftsmanship, terroir, and regional identity.

Practice 8: Support Local Through Advocacy

Leave a positive review online. Tag MashCraft and the distillers on social media. Recommend their gins to others. Word-of-mouth is the lifeblood of small producers. Your advocacy helps sustain the local spirit economy.

Tools and Resources

Tool 1: The Gin Tasting Journal (Digital or Physical)

A dedicated journal helps you track your journey. Include fields for:

• Date and location
• Distiller name
• Botanicals listed
• ABV
• First aroma
• Flavor progression
• Finish length
• Food pairing
• Overall rating (1–5)

Apps like Untappd or Whisky Advocate allow you to log spirits digitally, but a handwritten journal creates a more intimate connection with your experiences.

Tool 2: Botanical Identification Guides

Use field guides or apps like Seek by iNaturalist to identify plants used in local gins. If you taste a gin with “wild bergamot,” use the app to learn its scientific name (Monarda fistulosa), where it grows, and its traditional uses. This transforms tasting into an educational experience.

Tool 3: Local Distillery Map

Download or print a map of Indiana distilleries from the Indiana Distillers Guild website. Many of the gins at MashCraft come from producers listed there. Plan weekend trips to visit them directly—some offer tours, workshops, and exclusive bottlings.

Tool 4: Flavor Wheel for Gin

Use a gin flavor wheel (available online from organizations like the Guild of Master Sommeliers) to help articulate what you taste. Categories include: Citrus, Floral, Herbal, Spicy, Earthy, Sweet, Woody, and Mineral. This tool prevents vague descriptions like “it tastes good” and encourages precision: “notes of lemon verbena, crushed cardamom, and damp forest floor.”

Resource 1: Indiana Craft Spirits Association

Visit indianacraftspirits.org for event calendars, distillery directories, and educational content. They host annual tastings and seminars open to the public.

Resource 2: MashCraft Brewing’s Blog

Regularly updated with behind-the-scenes posts on gin production, interviews with distillers, and seasonal menu changes. Subscribe to their newsletter for early access to limited releases.

Resource 3: “The Craft Gin Companion” by Robert Joseph

This book offers historical context, production techniques, and global comparisons. While focused on international gins, it provides a framework for understanding what makes local Indiana gins unique.

Resource 4: YouTube Channels

Subscribe to channels like Distilled and Whisky & Gin for short documentaries on small-batch distilling. Look for episodes featuring Midwestern producers.

Real Examples

Example 1: “Hoosier Wild” by Riverbend Distillery

Featured in MashCraft’s spring 2023 flight, “Hoosier Wild” is distilled in Bloomington using juniper berries foraged from the Knobstone Escarpment, combined with wild bergamot and black walnut hulls. The result is a gin with a pronounced piney backbone, followed by a smoky, almost medicinal finish. The distiller, a former botanist, explains that the walnut hulls are collected only after autumn storms, when they naturally fall—ensuring sustainability.

Guests at MashCraft paired it with a charcuterie board featuring aged cheddar and pickled wild mushrooms. The earthiness of the gin mirrored the umami of the mushrooms, while the bitterness of the walnut balanced the cheese’s richness.

Example 2: “Cedar & Citrus” by Indy Botanical Co.

Created by a husband-and-wife team in Lawrence, this gin uses citrus peels from a local orchard and cedar tips harvested from the Indiana Dunes. The gin is lightly sweetened with raw honey from a beekeeper in Hendricks County. It’s floral, bright, and surprisingly smooth at 47% ABV.

At MashCraft, it was served neat with a single ice cube and a twist of orange zest. One guest described it as “like walking through a citrus grove after a rainstorm in the woods.” It sold out within two weeks of its debut.

Example 3: “Midnight Juniper” by Barrel & Bloom

This experimental gin is aged for three months in charred bourbon barrels previously used for a local rye whiskey. The result is a dark amber gin with notes of vanilla, toasted oak, and dark cherry, alongside traditional juniper. It’s not for everyone—but those who love bourbon often find it transformative.

Barrel & Bloom only produces 120 bottles per batch. MashCraft receives 10 bottles monthly. Patrons who sample it are often surprised by its depth, calling it “gin for whiskey drinkers.”

Example 4: “The Garden” by Homestead Spirits

A vegan, organic gin made entirely from ingredients grown on a 5-acre farm near Zionsville. Botanicals include lavender, chamomile, lemon balm, and fennel seed. No added sugars or preservatives. The gin is clear, light, and intensely aromatic.

It was paired with a chilled cucumber and mint salad at MashCraft. The combination was so popular that it became a permanent menu item. One regular guest now brings her own cucumber slices to the bar when ordering this gin.

Example 5: “Firefly Gin” by Lost Lantern Distilling

A limited-edition release featuring firefly-infused botanicals—a nod to the summer nights of rural Indiana. The distiller used a proprietary cold infusion method to extract the subtle sweetness of fireflies’ natural bioluminescent compounds (non-toxic, non-psychoactive). The result is a gin with a faint, honeyed sweetness and a lingering warmth, reminiscent of campfire smoke.

Though controversial at first, the gin became a talking point for the community. It was featured in Indianapolis Monthly and drew visitors from as far as Chicago. Only 50 bottles were made. One remains in MashCraft’s private collection.

FAQs

Can I visit MashCraft Brewing just to taste gin, even if I don’t drink beer?

Absolutely. While MashCraft is known for its craft beer, their gin program is independent and equally developed. Many guests visit solely for the gin tasting flights. The bar staff are trained to accommodate all preferences.

Are the gins at MashCraft available for purchase outside of the tasting room?

Most are available for in-house purchase only, but a few are distributed through select Indiana liquor stores. Ask the bartender for a list of retailers. Some distillers also sell directly through their own websites.

Do I need to book in advance for a gin tasting?

Walk-ins are welcome for the standard tasting flight. However, if you’re bringing a group of six or more, or want to schedule a private gin seminar, contact MashCraft ahead of time to reserve space.

Are there non-alcoholic options for those who don’t drink gin?

Yes. MashCraft offers house-made botanical tonics, shrubs, and non-alcoholic spirit alternatives that mirror the flavor profiles of their gins. These are perfect for designated drivers or those exploring flavor without alcohol.

How often does the gin flight change?

Typically monthly, but sometimes biweekly during peak seasons. Follow their Instagram or sign up for their email newsletter to stay updated on new releases.

Is there a dress code for visiting MashCraft Brewing?

No. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming. Comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes are recommended, especially if you plan to tour the facility.

Can I bring my own gin to taste at MashCraft?

For safety and quality control, outside spirits are not permitted. However, if you have a personal bottle you’d like to discuss, bring it up to the bar—the staff may be happy to compare it to their offerings.

Are the botanicals used in these gins safe for consumption?

Yes. All botanicals are sourced from licensed, food-grade suppliers or foraged under strict guidelines. Distillers test for pesticides, heavy metals, and contaminants. If you have allergies, inform the bartender—they can advise on ingredients.

Do any of these gins contain gluten?

Most gins are gluten-free by distillation, but some use grain bases that may trigger sensitivities. Ask for gluten-free certification if needed. Many of MashCraft’s featured gins are made from corn or sorghum, making them naturally gluten-free.

Can children or teens accompany me to the tasting?

Yes. MashCraft is family-friendly during daytime hours. While minors cannot taste alcohol, they can enjoy non-alcoholic botanical drinks and explore the tasting menu with guidance. Many families use these visits as educational opportunities about local agriculture and craftsmanship.

Conclusion

Sipping local gin at MashCraft Brewing in Indianapolis is more than a beverage choice—it’s a cultural experience. Each pour tells a story of land, labor, and legacy. From the wild foragers who harvest botanicals before dawn to the distillers who refine them with patience and precision, every bottle represents a community invested in quality over quantity.

This guide has walked you through the practical steps to engage with these spirits thoughtfully: from understanding the difference between craft and commercial gin, to selecting the right time to visit, to pairing flavors and reflecting on your experience. You’ve learned best practices for tasting, explored essential tools and resources, and seen real examples of how Indiana’s terroir shapes unique expressions of gin.

As you continue your journey, remember that the best gin isn’t the one with the most complex label or the highest price tag—it’s the one that connects you to a place, a person, and a moment. Whether you’re sipping “Hoosier Wild” on a quiet Tuesday afternoon or sharing “The Garden” with friends under the string lights of MashCraft’s patio, you’re participating in a quiet revolution—one that celebrates local ingredients, artisanal integrity, and the enduring human desire to create something beautiful.

So the next time you find yourself in Indianapolis, skip the chain bar. Head to MashCraft. Ask for the gin flight. Let the flavors guide you. And don’t just drink—listen. The land is speaking. You just have to sip slowly to hear it.