Armónico Dry Mexican Gin

One of the great things about artisanal gins is that they showcase not only a particular place but also the ingenuity of the distiller. In this case Andrés Valverde's creativity is on full display. His career began at 16 brewing beer, but after a stint in Chicago he returned to Mexico where he and his brother cofounded La Insoportable (inspired by Milan Kundera’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being). You'll find the usual suspects of juniper, coriander, angelica root, and licorice but also local botanicals like epazote, marigold, Mexican oregano, lime peel, damiana, and night-blooming jasmine. Crazily, he distills each separately, then blends. It's unlike any gin I've ever had. Full bodied & powerful it's remeniscent of a pine forest with herbal, floral and citrus notes and a long saline finish. Absolutely outstanding!