Mean Mule, an American agave spirit distillery — at 1733 Locust St. — is no stranger to bold claims + bolder business moves.

“We were already doing something that people didn’t quite understand. Why not confuse them more?” Co-owner Jeff Evans said.

Jeff + Meg Evans claim to have the only full-production agave spirit company in the US (we Googled and couldn’t find any other). Their agave (think: tequila plant) comes from Mexico, but they distill here in the Crossroads. Meg’s brother, Tyler Gloe, is a sixth-generation, award winning distiller. Together, they’ve released a new type of spirit — a vapor-distilled agave gin.

Tyler Gloe (left) and Jeff Evans. | Photo by KCtoday

What is gin?

The Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and Tax Bureau defines gin as a neutral base spirit blended with juniper berries and other extracts. Distillers add flavor through steeping (using a big basket of botanicals like a giant tea bag) or vapor infusion — blowing the neutral spirit vapor through botanicals to pull out essential oils.

That neutral spirit, however, can basically be any pure alcohol. Most places use grain, which produces flavorless + clear spirits — think: vodka. Mean Mule went a different route, using their agave spirit as a base.

Holding the "basket," where spirit vapor passes through botanicals. | Photo by KCtoday

Mean Mule’s agave gin

“We wanted to make a traditional gin in a new way, using a similar recipe that might have been made on the farm,” Tyler said.

Tyler + Meg grew up near Hermann on an ancestral farm — involving an illegal still, bootlegging, and a stubborn mule that saved the day (hence the name). Their farm had a giant persimmon tree, a nostalgic fruit Tyler now incorporates into their gin.

Other flavors include cardamom, coriander, lemon zest, and white pepper.

The pepper + lemon definitely come through as a zesty aftertaste. The sweetness of the agave is equally balanced with the woodsy freshness of the juniper. With a great, adventurous taste, this unique e gin is sure to lift your spirits.

Mean Mule exclusive cocktails

Mean Mule's Full Sun. | Image by Pilsen Photo Co-op

Mean Mule’s Full Sun | Makes 1 cocktail

2 oz Mean Mule Blue Agave Gin
3/4 oz Orange Safflower Syrup*
3/4 oz Lemon Juice

Build ingredients in a shaker tin with ice, then strain into a coupe. Garnish by sprinkling safflower on half of the cocktail.

Notes:

*Safflower is available at Planter’s Seed & Spice Co. in the River Market + at upscale supermarkets such as Whole Foods and on Amazon.

For the Safflower Syrup: Heat peel of 1 orange and 1 ½ teaspoons safflower in 1 cup water until boiling then stir in 1 cup granulated sugar and stir until dissolved. Let syrup cool and strain. Keeps for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Mean Mule's False Indigo. | Image by Pilsen Photo Co-op

Mean Mule’s False Indigo | Makes 1 cocktail

2 oz Mean Mule Blue Agave Gin
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
1/4 oz Giffard Creme De Violette
1/2 oz Ginger Syrup*
1/2 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
3 Droppers Habanero Tincture*

Build ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake until ice is crushed, and double strain into rocks glass. Garnish with expressed lemon swath on rim.

Notes:

For the Ginger Syrup: Combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar with 3/4 cup water and 1/3 cup peeled and chopped ginger in a small saucepan. Add the sugar, water and ginger into a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool. Then strain out ginger bits. Keeps for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

For the Habanero Tincture: We make our own by soaking habaneros in Mean Mule, then dropping the tincture in cocktails with a dropper bottle. Don’t want to DIY? Bittermens makes their own version people can buy at most upscale liquor stores.