Xibal Guatemala Gin

Xibal is distilled in copper stills by Licores de Guatemala, built around botanicals chosen for their links to Mesoamerican history and the pre-Columbian Mayan world. Bay leaf, lemon, black pepper, orange, St John's wort and cardamom sit at the centre, a deliberate bridge between ancient Maya tradition and modern Guatemalan identity. The result is a gin with a real sense of place, its spice rack reading less like a London template and more like a regional larder.

The nose opens with juniper, fresh cardamom, herbal aromas and citrus brightened by orange. The palate is complex and spice-led, juniper joined by bay leaf, pepper, cardamom and a green herbal undertow. The finish is long and warming. Pour it into a G&T with an orange twist and a few cracked peppercorns to draw out its savoury, aromatic side.