There are gins that wear their identity quietly, and then there's Gin Mare. This Contemporary gin from Destilerías MG in Vilanova i la Geltrú doesn't just nod to the Mediterranean — it bottles the entire coastline. Built around a botanical bill that reads like a Catalan market stall, it's one of those bottles that genuinely changed the conversation about what gin could be.
A Botanical Bill Worth Talking About
Let's start with the obvious: Arbequina olive as a key botanical. That alone sets Gin Mare apart from the crowd. Arbequina is the olive you find in the best Spanish pantries — buttery, mild, almost sweet. Pair that with rosemary, thyme, and basil, and you've essentially distilled a Mediterranean herb garden into a 70cl bottle. Juniper is present, of course — this is still gin — but it shares the stage generously with those savoury, aromatic notes. Coriander seed and cardamom add a gentle spice backbone, while citrus peel lifts everything and stops the herbal character from becoming too heavy.
Style and Character
At 42.7% ABV, Gin Mare sits at a comfortable strength — enough to carry its complex botanical profile without any harshness. This is a Contemporary gin in the truest sense. It respects tradition but isn't bound by it. The focus on culinary botanicals rather than the usual juniper-forward approach makes it immediately distinctive. During my years in Singapore and Tokyo, I encountered spirits that drew from local ingredients in similarly bold ways — shōchū infused with shiso, or local gins built around pandan and lemongrass. Gin Mare does the same thing for the western Mediterranean, and it does it with real confidence.
At around £38, it's fairly priced for a gin of this quality and originality. It's not cheap, but you're paying for genuine craftsmanship from Destilerías MG and a flavour profile you won't find replicated elsewhere. I'd give it an 8.5 out of 10 — it loses half a point only because its savoury, herbaceous lean won't suit every palate, and purists who want juniper front and centre may find it too unconventional. But for anyone who appreciates gin as a living, evolving category, this bottle belongs on the shelf.
Best Served
Skip the standard G&T format here. Pour Gin Mare over ice with a premium tonic, then garnish with a thin slice of Arbequina olive and a sprig of fresh rosemary. If you're feeling adventurous, try it in a Martini with a bar spoon of olive brine and a twist of yuzu peel — the citrus lifts those herbal notes beautifully. It also works remarkably well in a savoury Negroni riff, swapped in for a London Dry, where the thyme and basil play against sweet vermouth in unexpected ways.
