EnGINe is a bizarre one. Other than the vainness spelling (get it?) the very first thing that stands proud about this Italian-made natural gin is its novelty packaging, which makes it appear to be… motor oil.
Contemplating how a lot gasoline prices at present, that’s maybe not a great affiliation. The brand new gin, which involves us from Disaronno, is distilled within the Italian auto manufacturing hub of Langhe, therefore the unorthodox packaging and design. It’s vacuum distilled from a base of grain, and contains natural Italian botanicals akin to Ligurian sage, lemon, licorice root, and Damask sage.
Its nostril is briny and citrusy with olives, lemon peel, rosemary, and juniper spice. Not in contrast to a bowl of warmed olives with bits of lemon peel and herbs that you simply is perhaps served at an Italian bar as an aperitivi snack.
It’s spherical and silky but unctuous on the palate, and heat. It begins on a inexperienced, vegetal word that warms to fatty olive on the middle, adopted by dried lemon peel, savory rosemary, and black pepper on the end.
These apparently savory qualities made it a terrific selection for what I’d name a “clear” Soiled Martini, one which had the inexperienced, briny notes that will often be imparted by a few olives, solely in a clear and extra refined type right here. Those self same savory notes additionally proved efficient in a Gin & Tonic.
However maybe most fascinating is how EnGINe Gin carried out in a Final Phrase. In a textbook case of how a selection of spirit can radically alter a cocktail, the gin’s savory and vegetal qualities melded deliciously with the candy herbaceousness of Inexperienced Chartreuse, leading to what is perhaps my favorite-ever iteration of the basic drink.
I wasn’t certain what to make of EnGINe Gin at first, as much as and together with whether or not it was certainly potable alcohol and never motor gasoline. And whereas I need to admit that the novelty packaging is form of enjoyable, I worry it may distract from what’s in the end an exceptional gin and one other nice entry into the “Mediterranean” model gin class.
★★★
Stats:
— 42% ABV
— $29.99
