Gotha Spiriti Nobili "Menegiks - Gin con Acqua di Mare" Bologna

700ml

42% abv

Primary Botanicals: Bosnian juniper, caper berry, samphite, lime peel, peppermint
Botanical Source: Albania, Italy
Method of Production: Distilled to 60% ABV, maceration, then purified seawater from the Adriatic
Try this in a: Gin & Tonic, Martini

Menegiks is a savory dry gin made from partially dried juniper berries and fresh caper berries (from Pantelleria), sea fennel (also called samphire), lime peel, and peppermint. The juniper comes from Bosnia, and is grown on a hill just above Albania. It has smaller berries than those grown in Italy and is known for being more savory. Menegiks also contains purified seawater from the Adriatic which is the body of water that separates Albania and Italy. The salt and other minerals enhance our perception of the other flavors. 

It is made by making separate preparations of juniper, caper berry, and samphire, which are briefly macerated and then distilled to 60% alcohol by volume. These are all added to a hydro alcoholic solution which includes the sea water. To this combination are then added an infusion of caper berries, and essential oils of lime peel and peppermint. The final product is left to rest for about ten days, filtered, and bottled. Everything is made in-house except for the essential oils, which come from a small producer near the distillery. No coloring or sugar is added. (‘Menegiks’ is the phonetic spelling of the Albanian word for peppermint, Menexhik.)

Aromatic with notes of olive, raw oysters, and herbs. The essential oils add weight to the palate, adding mint and citrus on the finish. The sea water and capers come through as herbaceous and briny as opposed to salty and enhance the other botanicals as Ergin intended.

Uses: bright and distinctive in a gin and tonic, or of course a standard martini (no olive brine needed); or as Ergin suggests, try in a reverse martini with the Drai vermouth.

Gotha Spiriti Nobili is a small producer of fine spirits based in Bologna. It is the creation of Ergin Allko, a bartender and bar proprietor who emigrated from Albania to Italy when he was 18 years old to study in the university town. At the time of Gotha’s launch Ergin also had also lived in Italy for 18 years, and his spirits are very much influenced by his connection to both. To start the company he partnered with his brother Donald, and friends Umberto Menna and Riccardo Francesco de Campagnoli. Their first product was Menegiks Gin, their second Drai vermouth; both are excellent, and we are delighted to be importing these thoughtfully made artisanal spirits. 

‘Gotha’ is a German term used all over Europe which translates to ‘best in category’, and we certainly do not disagree.  There has been an explosion of small spirits companies in Italy in the last few years, but few of these producers have Ergin’s touch for blending flavors and creating balance.