Common Ground Gin Recipe 02 Black Currant & Thyme
Common Ground Gin Recipe 02 Black Currant & Thyme is a 90.44-proof (45.22% ABV) craft gin from Livermore, California — distilled by Master Distiller Julian Peebles for Black-owned Common Ground Spirits, built on juniper with black currant, thyme, Meyer lemon peel, peppercorn, and coriander seed, in a 750mL bottle. Recipe 02 is the bolder of the distillery's two gins: a savory, chef-minded gin inspired by a love of cooking, slow-distilled in small batches with locally sourced dried fruit and herbs. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 90.44 proof (45.22% ABV)
- Size: 750mL
- Botanicals: Black currant, thyme, Meyer lemon peel, peppercorn, juniper berries, coriander seed
- Distillery: Common Ground Spirits, Livermore, California — Black-owned craft distillery; Master Distiller Julian Peebles
- Production: Small-batch, slow-distilled
Cooking With Gin as the Spice
Recipe 02 starts from the kitchen: black currant and thyme lead a botanical bill rounded out by Meyer lemon peel, peppercorn, juniper, and coriander — the savory-sweet pairing a chef would reach for, slow-distilled in small batches in Livermore. It is the bolder sibling to the distillery's Recipe 01, leaning savory and peppery where many gins lean citrus-sweet. Explore the Common Ground collection and more craft gins at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Per the official brand site: the aroma is vivid citrus. The taste shows dried fruit and herbs — subtle dried-black-currant sweetness against savory thyme — and the finish lingers with peppercorn and citrus. Savory, complex, and peppery.
How to Enjoy
This gin was built for food-adjacent drinking: a dry martini with a thyme sprig garnish, or a gin and tonic with lemon peel where the peppercorn finish plays against the quinine. Try it in a savory Gimlet variation too — the black currant keeps it from tipping austere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What botanicals are in Common Ground Gin Recipe 02?
Black currant, thyme, Meyer lemon peel, peppercorn, juniper berries, and coriander seed, per the official brand site.
What proof is Common Ground Gin Recipe 02?
90.44 proof (45.22% ABV) — the brand prints both figures exactly.
How is Recipe 02 different from Recipe 01?
Recipe 02 is the bolder, savory-leaning gin — black currant and thyme with a peppercorn finish — where Recipe 01 (basil and elderflower) is the brighter, floral one.
Pick up Common Ground Gin Recipe 02 Black Currant & Thyme from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA — order online for a savory California gin.