Mintis Gin Amarena Cherry & Pancalieri mint

From a small family distillery in Moncalieri, just outside Turin, where Carlo Vergnano works alongside his wife and daughter and a handful of others, Mintis takes an unusual route to the glass. Master distiller Denis Muni runs the spirit through a customised vacuum still for eight hours at a gentle 60 degrees, a low-temperature method that protects the delicate aromatics rather than scorching them. Each bottle carries his signature. This expression leans on Piedmontese amarena cherries and locally grown Pancalieri mint.

The nose is fresh and openly fruity, juniper sitting beneath cherry, mint and a squeeze of lemon. On the palate it stays lively: juniper, lemon zest and a sweet-tart amarena lift, mint keeping everything cool and clean. The finish is long and gently fruity. Try it as an Amarena Cherry Gimlet, two parts gin to half a part fresh lime and a part of sugar syrup.