Molly Posts
We’re bursting with excitement to share that WildGins has been honored with a cocktail spotlight in Food & Wine magazine’s June 2025 issue—on page 64, no less! It’s a thrilling milestone and a testament to the craft, care, and story behind every bottle of WildJune and WildBark Gins. And it all stems from our collaboration with one of our favorite restaurants in Austin, El Raval.
1. A Sizzling Honor from Food & Wine
The article is on “Spicy Cocktails,” and the cocktail they feature is the “Wild G & T” which has been on the menu at El Raval since they opened in May 2023. It was developed by Juliette Larrouy and Moe Aljaff in their collaboration to create the exquisite bar program for El Raval, and it features WildJune Western Style Gin. The cocktail gets its spicy accolade from the infusion of Szechuan peppers with our Gin. They selected WildJune for this creative take on a G&T because she happens to have white peppercorn as one of her 11 botanicals. The Szechuan complements the subtle white pepper notes of our WildJune in a glorious way. Fortunately, the recipe is not that complicated. I love it when complexity is simplified. And this is absolutely one of those cocktails you can easily make for yourself at home!
The Wild Gin & Tonic
- 1 ¼ oz WildJune Western Style Gin
- 1/8 tsp toasted Szechuan peppercorns (~ 8 peppercorns)
- Pinch of salt
- 1 Tbsp yuzu juice
- 1 dash orange bitters
- ¾ cup elderflower tonic (chilled)
- Lemon and lime slices for garnish
The recipe calls for placing the WildJune Western Style Gin, peppercorns, and salt in a mixing glass and muddling for 20 seconds to break down the peppercorns and dissolve the salt. The next step is key as it involves patience. You want to let this mixture stand for at least 30 minutes (or up to 12 hours). After that, you can pour the Szechuan-infused WildJune through a strainer into a highball glass with ice. Add the juzu juice and bitters, top with the elderflower tonic water, and garnish with lime and lemon slices. And there you have it…a Wild G&T !
2. It’s Spicy Pizzazz not Spicy Hot
I have to admit, I don’t tend to gravitate towards ‘spicy’ cocktails in general. Sometimes they can pack too much of a punch for my palate. The good news is that this ‘Wild G&T’ is just right! It has tingly peppery tones that turn a typically tame Gin and Tonic into something savory and delightful.
What’s even better news is that El Raval has featured a number of WildJune and WildBark cocktails on their menu that are guaranteed to satisfy whatever whim you find yourself in. One of the most unusual WildJune cocktails that I have ever had is also on the El Raval menu, and it’s called the Truffle Martini. This is a blend of savory complementing the subtle sweetness of WildJune — and it’s remarkably good. I had no idea what I was in for when I tried it the first time, and now I find myself coming back for more! It features WildJune Western Style Gin, Fino Sherry & Dolin Blanc Vermouth, Truffle Milk Punch, and a parmesan-coated garnished glass . It is a lovely pairing to some of the delicious Paella dishes (you can pick any one of the 4 (yes four!) served at El Raval!
3. And for the Sweeter Side of Cocktail Life
One of my favorite cocktails at El Raval falls on the slightly sweet side of the spectrum. It’s the Tangier Fizz and it features WildJune Western Style Gin, White Chocolate, Yoghurt, Mint, Citrus and soda. And I am so pleased to report that it’s been one of their most popular cocktails on the El Raval Menu! With such a whimsical and wonderful set of ingredients, how could it not be?!
Texas Juniper: Wild & Untamed
Why El Raval is able to create so many unique and different style cocktails with our wildGins is a testament to the wild and untamed flavor of our Texas Junipers. Much like a chef on the hunt for exotic flavors from far and wide, we went on a hunt for the very best Junipers that Texas had to offer for gin. And they don’t live in any of our major Texas cities. Instead, we had to head to the mountains where we found the inimitable Redberry Juniper featured in WildJune Western Style Gin and the strong and bold Alligator Juniper found in our WildBark West Texas Dry gin. Both are incredibly different from the common juniper you find in any other gin.
WildJune boasts 10 other botanicals in addition to the Redberry juniper. Some of the botanicals complement these savory cocktails mentioned above (such as the white peppercorn, angelica, coriander, common juniper, and orris root); while others complement the sweeter side of life (redberry juniper, orange peel, lemon zest, lemon balm, and cinnamon). In other words, you can riff in all sorts of directions when it comes to cocktail creation with WildJune!
And while WildJune gets a lot of spotlight time on El Raval’s menu, our WildBark West Texas Dry Gin is no slouch when it comes to great cocktails. WildBark has made a debut last year at El Raval with a Let’s Have a Wild Thyme cocktail! We introduced this cocktail to the El Raval team and they loved it. It is such a refreshing cocktail, that is perfect for the unbearable heat of summer. Not too sweet at all, just citrus and herbal and clean. I love this one. And it’s another one that you can easily make at home.
Let’s Have a Wild Thyme
- 1 ¼ oz WildBark West Texas Dry Gin
- Spoonful of Lemon Thyme Simple Syrup *
- Fever Tree Sparkling Grapefruit
- Garnish with Lemon and Thyme
Shake the Gin and Syrup, strain into a collins glass, top with sparkling grapefruit, and add garnish. * You can make the simple syrup at home, the only trick is tracking down lemon thyme from your local grocer.
4. Drink Wild — Recipes & Pairings
Feel inspired to sip? Check out How to Drink for recipes like:
- Wild Barking Mule – our signature twist on the classic mule
- West Texas Spring Water – refreshing, with deep local roots
Explore & Shop
Inspired by these stories? Dive deeper into our products:
- Discover WildJune and WildBark in our Our Products
- Interested in tasting? Visit our Where to Drink page to find bars and restaurants pouring WildGins across Texas.
Learn the True Story
Our origin story is wild—and real. Visit our Our Story page to uncover:
- Our foraging expeditions in the West Texas Mountains
- How single-tree distillation preserves each tree’s distinct personality
- Our “Give a Wild Buck” program—$1 from each bottle goes to The Nature Conservancy to protect Texas juniper habitats.
For you, this means more chances to enjoy WildGins—whether at home, in fine cocktail bars, or at spirited collaborations with like-minded brands. Stay tuned by checking our Events Page, signing up for our newsletter, or following us on social media.
Final Thoughts
We’re beyond grateful to Food & Wine for showcasing our story alongside other creative spirits. This feature brings our roots, rigor, and recipes to a bigger audience, and we’re buzzing with excitement for what’s next—whether it’s new batches, fresh bottles, or unforgettable cocktails. Thank you for being a part of the WildGins journey.
Now grab a glass of WildJune or WildBark, click through the links above, and let’s celebrate this wild ride together. Cheers!
P.S. Want to revisit the Food & Wine feature or check out the original? Find it here. And don’t forget to follow the links sprinkled throughout to dive deeper into the world of WildGins.
