Yup. You have read that correctly. Over the past year, behind the scenes, I have been working with James May to help create one of the most unusual and technically interesting gins I have ever developed. The result is California Dreamin’ Gin. An award winning spirit built around mushrooms, patchouli, and a flavour profile that completely ignores convention. It results in a gin that has a very disctinctive umami profile.
This latest release from James Gin takes inspiration from California’s eclectic culture, laid back creativity, and sun drenched landscapes. Rather than chasing another citrus led London Dry, we wanted to create something with texture, savoury depth, and genuine individuality. Something that felt adventurous from the very first sip.
The foundation of the gin centres around girolle mushrooms. These provide an elegant umami character with gentle fruity notes, subtle pepper, and a faint apricot like softness. Mushrooms in gin sound absurd on paper, but when treated carefully they create remarkable structure and depth without overwhelming the spirit.
Alongside this sits patchouli. Often misunderstood, patchouli brings earthy, woody, slightly resinous notes that linger beautifully at the back of the palate. It gives the gin length and warmth whilst reinforcing the savoury complexity created by the mushrooms.
To balance these deeper notes, oregano was introduced to lift the herbaceous character and create freshness through the mid palate. Coriander seed and lemon peel then cut through the richness with brightness and citrus clarity, ensuring the gin remains vibrant and drinkable rather than heavy.
The final result is a true umami gin. Distinctive, layered, and deliberately different. It is one of those spirits that starts conversations immediately because there is very little else like it on the market today.
Creating something genuinely original is increasingly rare within gin. That is exactly why this project mattered.
