Gin of the month August
Venakki Gin 47
Small batch
Mixology Collection
Portuguese grapes, bold juniper, bartender’s backbone.
Venakki Distillery was established in 2012 by a small international team with rather large ambitions:
to create high-quality spirits and build a place for Portuguese whisky.
They began with unaged spirits and later became known for producing the first Portuguese single malt whisky.
But in 2018, the distillery also launched its Venakki Mixology Collection.
A vodka and gin created specifically with bartenders and cocktails in mind.
That explains a few things.
The higher strength.
The firm juniper.
And the feeling that this gin has been made to remain recognisable after the tonic, ice and garnish have joined the glass.
But Venakki Gin also starts differently from many other gins.
Instead of using the more familiar neutral grain spirit, the base is distilled from Portuguese grapes.
The botanicals are slowly steeped overnight in that grape spirit before distillation after which the individual flavours are brought together through a two-stage blending process and reduced using the distillery’s limestone water.
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The complete recipe remains secret but they do reveal enough to point us towards juniper, coriander, angelica root, orris root, cardamom, liquorice and lemongrass.
No strawberries, no marshmallows, no promise that it will change colour when the tonic arrives.
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this is a serious gin made for mixing.
I brought this bottle outside during our camper trip.
A Portuguese gin on a wooden table, surrounded by Scottish grass,
changing weather and people wondering why I was photographing the bottle before pouring it.
August is a good month for Venakki 47
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The evenings are still long enough to sit outside, but there can already be a little coolness in the air.
This is not a delicate summer gin that disappears the moment the sun goes behind a cloud.
At 47%, it has enough strength, spice and structure to stay with you.
VENAKKI
GIN 47
Mixology Collection
Bold, dry and built to be mixed.
Tasting notes
When I open it:
Juniper first, Clean, dry and confident.
Not a vague suggestion of juniper, but actual juniper.
Then coriander brings a slightly citrusy spice, and the fresh lemongrass and something cooler and more earthy underneath.
The cardamom is there too and adds warmth and makes the nose feel more layered.
At 47%, you expect a little alcohol.
It is there, but it does not push the botanicals out of the way.
Give it a moment and the nose becomes softer and more aromatic.
When I taste it:
The juniper remains firmly in control.
Dry pine, citrus peel and coriander come first, followed by earthy angelica and orris root.
The grape spirit gives it a surprisingly rounded foundation.
Not sweet like wine, not obviously fruity.
Just a slightly softer, fuller base than I expected from such a juniper-led gin.
Cardamom adds gentle warmth while the lemongrass keeps things fresh.
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This is clearly a gin designed to work in a mixed drink.
But tasting it neat shows that there is more going on than simply strength.
When I swallow it:
Dry, warming and impressively smooth for 47%.
The juniper stays longest, together with the coriander, dry citrus and a little herbal spice.
There is a clean earthy note at the end.
The finish is long enough to remind you that this is not a lightweight gin but it's never harsh.
Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied.
Smooth, structured and slightly rounded.
There is enough weight to carry tonic without being heavy, and enough strength to stand up in a Martini or another spirit-forward cocktail.
This gin was made for mixology, the word on the label is not just decoration.
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Gin.whis notes
What I like about Venakki Gin is that it comes without a fashionable flavour.
It starts with the foundations.
A good base spirit, recognisable juniper, carefully layered botanicals, enough alcohol to carry everything into a mixed drink.
and a distillery that is still privately owned, independent and interested in experimenting.
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The grape spirit makes it different and is a part of the texture and character of the gin.
The same applies to the 47%.
This is a strong gin,but Venakki usesthis strength well.
It is a gin for someone who still wants to taste gin after adding tonic?
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The bottle that keeps changing depending on where the light catches it and the content is more than capable of holding your attention too.
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Best serve suggestion
Keep it simple.
Fill a large copa glass generously with ice.
Add:
40 ml Venakki Gin 47
100 ml premium Indian tonic
Stir gently and finish with a strip of fresh lemon peel.
Twist the peel above the glass first to release the oils.
Then leave it alone.
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For a slightly softer and more Portuguese-looking serve, add two halved green grapes.
They give a small nod to the grape-spirit base without making the drink noticeably sweet.
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Venakki also makes a very good, firm Martini.
60 ml Venakki Gin 47
10 ml dry vermouth
Stir with plenty of ice, strain into a chilled glass and finish with a lemon twist.
Dry, cold and direct.
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Producer: Venakki Distillery
Collection: Venakki Mixology
Style: Grape-distilled small-batch gin
ABV: 47%
Origin: Alpiarça, Portugal