Celebrated Latin American bartender Tato Giovannoni set out to create an uplifting New World gin that incorporates indigenous botanicals & champions Argentinas national beverage, mate. In contrast with London Dry Gins winter flavours, Principe de los Apostoles Mate Gin with yerba mate, eucalyptus, peperina (a herb unique to Argentina thats similar to peppermint) & pink grapefruit offers a more nuanced, tropical & herbaceous flavour profile.
The gins headline ingredient, yerba mate, was planted by Jesuits in the Provence of Misiones in South America & has gone on to become the countrys national beverage. This is joined by other ingredients traditionally found in terere, a traditional cold mate infusion.
Six botanicals are each macerated individually in a wheat alcohol base. After maceration they are blended together & distilled in 200-litre batches in a copper pot still in the Province of Mendoza. The heart of the distillation is brought down to 40.5% ABV using pure water from the Andes. The result is a unique gin with nuanced tropical & herbal notes.
Botanicals: Yerba mate, eucalyptus, peperina, pink grapefruit, juniper, coriander.
Nose: Pink grapefruit pith, spicy coriander seed & a touch of mint for good measure.
Palate: Citrus & coriander build towards juniper, pine bark & gentian, followed by bold menthol & peppermint notes.
Finish: Long, cool & minty, finishing with a touch of herbal bitterness from the mate.
With its tropical & herbaceous notes, & menthol freshness, Principe de los Apostoles Mate Gin is a fascinating
- & useful
- cocktail ingredient, from G& Ts to more complex creations.
For the Apostoles signature serve, try it with a dash of Cynar, tonic water & a sprig of eucalyptus.