Stray Dog Wild Gin 750ml

Stray Dog Wild Gin is essentially a Mediterranean vacation in a glass. Wild-foraged herbs like sage, rosemary, fennel seed, and bay leaf mingle with mastiha, fresh orange, and lemon to create a gin that’s bright, savory, and effortlessly smooth. It’s layered enough to sip neat, lively enough to light up a cocktail, and full of the kind of sun-soaked herbal character that feels unmistakably Greek.

As if that weren’t enough, Stray Dog also gives back: a portion of sales is donated to animal shelters that provide veterinary care and homes for stray animals. So yes, it’s a very good gin with a very good conscience.

What is mastiha?
Mastiha—also known as mastic, or the “tears of Chios”—is an aromatic resin harvested from the mastic tree, which grows exclusively on the southern Greek island of Chios. Protected by PDO status, it has a distinctive piney, herbal character with a subtle sweetness, and has been used for centuries in everything from pastries and chewing gum to liqueurs and medicinal remedies.

The resin is collected by hand by making small incisions in the bark of the tree. As the sap drips out, it hardens over the course of 15–20 days into small crystal “tears,” which are then gathered and carefully cleaned.

Mastiha wears a lot of hats. It’s considered the original chewing gum, releasing a refreshing herbal flavor when chewed. In the kitchen, it’s ground with sugar or salt and used in Mediterranean pastries, puddings, ice cream, and even savory dishes. It’s also the base of Mastika, a sweet, aromatic Greek liqueur traditionally served chilled as a digestif.