It’s name is White Gin. Macaronesian White Gin. And we’re a match made in heaven.
But before we get to drink, it’s time for some geographical ground work:
Macaronesia is a collection of four archipelagos in the North Atlantic Ocean. Vulcanic in origin, they are unique in their climate and vegetation. We gonna zoom in into one of those archipelagos – The Canary Islands – and further in into Tenerife and even further in into San Miguel de Abona where we find the Destileria Santa Cruz the Tenerife.
Here, the liquid represantation of Mediterranean savoir-vivre is created. Macaronesian White Gin. Bottled up in a white fired clay bottle, the visual design alone stands out:
The Gin is destilled with water that was filtered drop by drop through local volcanic rocks. That makes for an especially pure and high quality. The botanicals used are – according to the destillery’s website – cedar, cardamom, lime, lemon, orange, angelica root and other “top quality plants”. Whatever those are – never change that recipe, dude.
Now when you unseal and open that bottle, a very light and low key odour escapes; a hint of mint and citrus fruits and without the nauseating, repulsive and overwhelming smell of strong alcohol that most 40% spirits often have.
Now close your eyes (or rather read first, then close your eyes and do what I tell you to do now so you can actually follow my imaginary gin tasting) and imagine yourself standing on the pier of Las Salinas (s. here). The late afternoon sun shines down and warms you face and a fresh sea breeze tingles with your hair and makes you wish that this moment may last forever. This is what Macaronesian Gin smells like.
The taste ist similar. Very light and subtle. Some might call it “weak” or “shallow” but I like it. Simple but blissful. Citrus fruits are the dominating flavour, accompanied by the aforementioned hint of mint and an even subtler hint of cedar, followed by a final impression of orange spiked with a with a whiff of cinnamon.
To make a long story short: this is bottled Mediterranean Summer and best enjoyed on the rocks (as in both on ice and also whilst sitting on the vulcaniv rocks of Las Salinas), with Fever Tree’s Mediterranean Tonic Water or Thomas Henry Tonic Water and a garnish of lemon (okay), orange (pretty good) or grapefruit (amazing!).
Salud!
For more information, visit their website
http://www.macaronesiangin.com/
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