Gin Lovers, created by Gin Lovers, for gin lovers

We found Gin Lovers’ Distillery in the beautiful Ribeiro da Cunha Palace, one of the most emblematic buildings of the trendy Príncipe Real neighbourhood in Lisbon, purely by chance.  Thanks to chatting to the friendly sommelier at our hotel, who suggested we visit her local distillery; a mere €8 taxi ride away that would likely have cost us €108 each through the tour company we with in Portugal.

We arrived at what looked like a rather shabby chic property in an area which had, in the past, been rather grand – think of Covent Garden, with its houses designed for newly monied traders to show off their wealth, people who’d ‘made it.’  Then now – trendily repurposed as outlets for Doc Martens, Apple and Tiffany & Co – but with glimpses of the former grandeur poking through in the form of EM Barry’s Royal Opera House, and the still-impressive Italianate style architecture of Inigo Jones’ town houses behind the shop fronts.

And so, it felt with Gin Lovers’ home – upon climbing the very imposing stairway into the old palace, we were met with an elegant opening into a grand hall, which houses the distillery’s bar and large restaurant.  Through the slightly peeling frescos and pillars, openings revealed boutique shops selling artisan jewellery, cloths, luxury items where, if you need to ask the price of the goodies on show, you’re in the wrong place …

The sense of nostalgia, mixed with a touch of bohemian defiance – old meets new – with the determination of the usurpers of this palace survive, a “happening place” like Covent Garden; the frisson of surprised delight that can still touch even us oldies on occasion: “What a great place to drink gin!”  declare young and old alike.

“We started in the cosy bar with the distillery’s flagship Gin Lovers – sharing the makers name of course; with its 41^% London dry type base, this tipple boasts fresh and dry botanicals – the most unusual of these being vanilla, jasmine flower, bergamot, cucumber and ginger.”

We liked the spicy finish, and I quote the distiller’s tasting notes, as they pretty much match out own: “Despite its 37 botanicals, it is a balanced gin with a focus on its spicy notes.  On the nose, we find perfumed notes delicately standing out with a rich and deep finish.  It pairs perfectly in a gin and tonic.”

We agree with Layla, our sommelier, that Gin Lovers is a superb gin – and sipping it in the surroundings of the Ribeiro da Cunha Palace, was a magical experience we will never forget.

Sorry, again – you’ll have to visit this beautiful country to buy this for circa €40.