Mediterranean botanicals that meet with olive wood, the Polignano carrot and even the Altamura bread. Here are all the labels born in the region that distillery lovers will do well to keep in mind
Land of oil, wine, bread and now also of gin: the Puglia food and wine never ceases to surprise. Breweries and distilleries in the region have begun to compete with a very ancient distillate. It was once considered a food for the poorer classes in the UK. Today we look for the place with the richest gin menu, to try daring pairing throughout the meal. In Puglia, gin is enriched with the notes of sea water, olive trees and citrus fruits, even the Altamura bread. Here is the map of juniper-based spirits not to be missed.
Gin from Puglia
After a trip to Puglia, Ettore Pacilli was pervaded by the idea of creating a product that would return the scents of this land. He did it together with Valentina Delli Carri, sommelier of the Uvarara wine shop, and Pellegrino Riccio, agronomist, creating Gin di Puglia. "We followed our passion, experimenting a lot firsthand," explains Delli Carri. The production is in a factory in Foggia, with a store in Troia to market part of the thousand bottles produced in 2019. The flavor of Gin di Puglia recalls the Mediterranean scrub, rosemary and tomatoes, sage, in short, the smells perceived during a walk in the countryside. Obviously, among the botanicals there is no shortage of juniper, coriander produced in the province of Foggia and licorice roots. Gin di Puglia is available in two versions: Dry, with only olive oil, and Summer Edition, with the addition of citrus fruits. The processing in cool compound with extra virgin olive oil leaves the palate perfectly clean. Gin di Puglia is perfect for Apulian dinners, even those based only on bruschetta or cold cuts and cheeses.
Muma, the gin that tastes of the sea
A mix of six botanicals, the water of the Mediterranean Sea and a secret ingredient: this is inside Muma Gin, an Italian distillate, mirror of Puglia, which wants to collect its scents, colors and its history. Muma is the first Italian spirit to incorporate purified water from the Mediterranean Sea. Inside, to complete the spell, there are eight ingredients: chamomile, ireos, cinnamon, lemon and orange, juniper and an eighth ingredient that the creators of Muma do not intend to reveal. This distillate comes to life from the meeting of two Apulian excellences: Frantoio Muraglia and Birrificio Matà. Entrepreneur and producer devoted to extra virgin olive oil, Savino Muraglia continues the family tradition that has been producing, harvesting and pressing olives for five generations to produce superior quality oils. The Matà di Cerignola Brewery, founded by the two Marinaro brothers, produces high fermentation and unpasteurized craft beers in Puglia and Southern Italy. Their reference point is the style of American and Belgian beers. Completing the quartet is Stefania Urso, a marketing and communication professional in the food sector. The production takes place in a discontinuous still, in Trinitapoli. The product is available in two formats: 40ml and 500ml.
Gin Brusco
In ancient times gin was considered the bread of the poor. Perhaps from this idea Gin Brusco was born, which has among its ingredients another symbol of gastronomic Puglia: the Pane di Altamura. Its name is a tribute to a typical dish of the regional tradition, the bruschetta. Created by the Pagnotta Brewery from soft grain alcohol, the picture is completed by hints of dried tomato, oregano, olive leaves, coriander, angelica and juniper. The herbaceous aromas of the Mediterranean blend with the balsamic notes of juniper, thanks to the infusion. Produced in just over 1000 bottles, Gin Brusco's botanicals make it perfect for a whole meal pairing or for an appetizing gin and tonic.
Pharmacy Gin, a drug for the soul
Pharmacy Gin is an artisanal distillate compound made in Puglia. To make it really special we think the Almond of Toritto and the Carrot from Polignano, two Slow Food presidia of the region. "It took me a long time to study the recipe," says the creator of Pharmacy Gin, Nicola Guarini. "Being a Slow Food presidium, both carrots and almonds are not available throughout the year". After six months of study, the first 700 bottles came out in 2019. The recipe hides many secrets. At the base there are seven botanicals, including juniper, Polignano carrot and toasted Toritto almond. The rest is a mystery. Have a gin and tonic prepared in the restaurant of the same name, in Polignano.
Ulìa: First Mediterranean Gin
The Essentiae distillery of Emanuele De Gaetani gave life to Ulìa. This name contains both a future wish and the olive tree. "The idea was born from the desire to combine juniper distillate with the infusion of olive leaves, which we already used for our amaro," explains De Gaetani. "In this way we wanted to make our gin a little Salento". The first 500 copies of Ulìa were created in 2016 and marketed only three years later, at the end of aging in contact with olive wood. It is a gin essence compound, made from a juniper-flavored cereal distillate and embellished with olive wood and strictly Mediterranean botanicals: mint, bitter orange, lemon, cloves, calendula, cardamom, star anise, aloe and olive leaves. A few drops of honey and carob add some sweet notes. Almost all the botanicals used are cultivated by De Gaetani or collected in the patches of Torre San Giorvanni. Ulìa was among the finalists of The Gin Guide Awards 2020. To be enjoyed next to an orange salad or with a simple slice of bread and tomato as an aperitif.
Roach Gin
Gianluca Selicato, Michele Russo and Fabio Ceglie are the three creators of Roach Brewery. We are in Monopoli. After starting the craft brewery, in 2017 the three partners launched the spirits division. From this rib was born Amaro, Roach Gin and Vermouth will soon arrive. "The characteristic of these spirits is the hop flavoring," Selicato explains. Roach Gin is a cool compound, in which juniper, coriander, citrus and hops are cold infused. Everything is harmonized with a minimal presence of sugar which mitigates the bitterness of the plant that gives life to the beer. "The packaging is the real gem: a wooden label is applied by hand to the bottle". Roach Gin comes out in 6-7 thousand bottles a year. After conquering Europe, the three of the Roach Brewery are preparing to conquer Japan. Meanwhile, the Apulian distillate is full of awards. Roach Gin was awarded as Best Italian Gin 2019 and 2020 in the World Liquer Awards. Served in gin and tonic it goes well with lemon and tonic based on citrus and bergamot. It is perfect for South Style and can also be used in the kitchen as an ingredient to prepare fish.
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