Ginarte Dry Gin The Spirit Of Art

Made by Distillerie Francoli in Piedmont, Ginarte treats gin as something close to an art object, right down to the limited bottles designed by contemporary artists. A clean grain spirit carries thirteen botanicals: the familiar juniper, coriander and angelica alongside less usual choices like liquorice, lavender, iris and gentian root, some of them gathered in the Italian Alps and Tuscany. The whole thing comes boxed, as much a collector's piece as a pour.

The nose is fresh and layered, juniper to the fore with citrus accents and those floral notes of lavender and iris over a light herbal spice. The palate is soft and harmonious, juniper and citrus balanced by sweet florals and a gentle background warmth, the finish medium and elegant with herbal and flowery echoes. Build it into a G&T with a mild Mediterranean tonic and a few lavender flowers.