Pond Life proves perfect remedy for Portuguese heatwave.
Formulated to reference the city’s seven hills and historical links to the wine and spirits trade, Lisbon Gin contains seven base botanicals and an equal number of locally grown herbs: while trying to conceal my least favourite salad leaf – lettuce. It was probably appropriate when we sat down under the awnings of a waterfront restaurant to escape the Portuguese capital’s 40o degree midday sun, that the G+T I ordered arrived on our table looking like something a small boy might have dredged out of the village pond.
Having checked to make sure there were no sticklebacks, frogs or newts lurking amongst the multiple green fronds in my jam-jar shaped glass, I risked a sip of what turned out to be a very refreshing and delightfully balanced blend of classic London Dry type ingredients, along with cinnamon, salt, coffee, Arinto grapes, Portuguese basil (known as Manjerico), petals of clove; and of ‘Cos’ – the salad spoiler.
All of these are reportedly cold-infused to optimise the transfer of flavours to a grain based spirit, and then cycled through a bank of modestly sized stills to help secure the drink’s small batch credentials. Like the capital itself, Lisbon Gin is welcoming and vibrant, but not one I would choose as a regular tipple as it lacks the spice we esteem as part of a full aftertaste, and probably ranks behind the Black Pig with which we began this Juniper Junket of the Iberian Peninsulas.
Sorry again, folks – a trip to Portugal is required if you wish to purchase this gorgeous tipple, for just under £40.
