Aqva Lvce Gin

Aqva Lvce is distilled high in the Italian Dolomites at the Distilleria dell'Alpe, and the pufferfish on the bottle nods to its origin: Antonio Levarin, an Italian marine who met gin through an English officer in the First World War and brought the passion home. The gin is made in two historic pot stills dating from the Second World War, and its twelve botanicals run well off the beaten path, with juniper joined by caraway, bay leaf, hops, wild thyme, gentian, iris, rosehip, angelica and hawthorn.

The nose is a lively blend of juniper, fresh herbs and fine citrus, wild thyme and bay leading the way. The palate is full-bodied and complex, intense juniper, caraway and bitter gentian rounded by a floral note of iris and rosehip, while the finish lingers long with hawthorn and angelica trailing a gentle herbal warmth. Serve it in a classic G&T or let it anchor a Martini where its alpine botanicals can be heard clearly.