While craft gins are gaining ground around the country, there’s been little mention of Italian gin, with Italian producers keeping a low profile. “But Italians have centuries of experiences in distillation; from producing their world-famous grappa and fruit-based eaux de vie to the digestifs known as amaro,” explains Giuliana Abrahamse, Marketing and Operations Director for Profumi D’Italia Marketing.

Family-owned and operated, for the past 12 years Profumi D’Italia has sourced and selected the finest Italian products for import into the South African market. And the latest product to hit our shores? Biostilla Organic Gin – the first organic gin to be sold in SA.

For nine generations, the family-owned Walcher distillery has been perfecting the art of distilling eaux de vie in the town of Turmbauch. Now that premium gin has become popular around the world, the distillers have turned their hand to crafting premium organic gin.

The gin is made with certified organic wheat, which is first distilled to create a neutral base alcohol, and is then re-distilled with botanicals from the surrounding hillsides.  These include wild juniper, which gives the gin a classic London Dry profile, coriander seed for spice and citrus notes, orris root for texture and depth, and elderflower for freshness and perfume. The final flourish is the inclusion of the flowering tops of clary sage (Salvia sclarea), a plant native to the northern Mediterranean and long used in traditional herbal remedies.

On the nose expect a delicate whisper of the juniper, with a palate of sweet juniper, citrus and floral notes giving way to a pleasing hint of bitterness in a lingering finish.

“In terms of flavour profile the Biostilla Organic Gin is entirely unique,” says Giuliana, who recommends it enjoyed over ice as a sipping gin, or with a small splash of premium tonic. “With all the botanicals sourced from the Italian Alps, it’s a real taste of South Tyrol!”

Biostilla Organic Gin is available at leading retailers nationwide, at a recommended retail price of R350.00. Follow bottegabyprofumiditalia on Instagram and Bottega by Profumi D’Italia on Facebook.