From Sparrow’s gin list, Uncle Val’s is a delicate small-batch botanical gin, built around the favorite cooking ingredients from the garden of Zio Valerio, AKA “Uncle Val” ($11 by the pour, or $16.50 for a larger pour).
About Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin
Uncle Val’s is made by 35 Maple Street Spirits, the gin named for August Sebastiani’s great-uncle, Valerio, who tended a garden of fresh herbs and vegetables in Lucca, Italy. It is a new-world American botanical gin that leans on the same ingredients Uncle Val liked to cook with and grow: juniper and citrus brightened by cucumber, lavender, and sage. The botanicals are infused into the spirit before blending, a small-batch approach that keeps things delicate and garden-fresh rather than heavy on juniper.
Tasting Notes
This is a soft, herbaceous gin. Juniper and citrus notes are enhanced by cool cucumber, fragrant lavender, and savory sage, giving it a fresh, garden-led character. It is rounded and approachable, a gin that wins over people who think they do not like gin, and it makes a lovely, aromatic martini.
What to Pair It With
Bright and herbal, Uncle Val’s is a natural in a martini or a spritz and pairs beautifully with lighter plates. From the Sparrow dinner menu, try it with Fresh Oysters, the Tuna Tartare, or a fresh salad. It is a great happy hour pick too, with well drinks $3 off daily from 3 to 5 PM in the 21+ lounge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin?
Uncle Val’s is a small-batch American botanical gin from 35 Maple Street Spirits, made with juniper and citrus enhanced by cucumber, lavender, and sage, inspired by the garden of Uncle Valerio in Lucca, Italy.
How much is a pour of Uncle Val’s at Sparrow?
At Sparrow in Kirkland, Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin is $11 by the pour, or $16.50 for a larger pour.
Find it on the Sparrow beverages menu near other botanical gins like Hendrick’s and Song Cai. We are in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside, so reserve a table and come taste it.