First Impressions
nginious! (the exclamation mark is intentional, the lowercase n is their style) is a Swiss gin that brings the precision of Swiss watchmaking to the somewhat messier world of botanical distillation. The name is a portmanteau of 'engine' and 'ingenious', and the gin itself is constructed with an engineer's attention to detail: 18 botanicals, including several that are unique to the Alpine landscape, blended with mathematical care to produce a spirit of genuine complexity.
The botanical bill reads like an Alpine herbalist's inventory: alongside conventional gin ingredients like juniper and citrus, you will find hay flowers, clover blossoms, hyssop, carline thistle root, and blackcurrant leaves. These are not common gin botanicals, and their inclusion gives nginious! a character that is distinctly Swiss.
The Distillery
nginious! is produced in Switzerland using 18 botanicals: juniper berries, lemon, sweet orange, iris, cardamom, liquorice root, grapefruit, chamomile, verbena, hyssop, blackcurrant leaves, galingale, hay flowers, clover blossoms, laurel berries, barberries, bee balm, and carline thistle root. Several of these are sourced from the Swiss Alps, and the emphasis on local, Alpine botanicals gives the gin a terroir that is genuinely reflective of its origin. At 45% ABV, it has the body to carry the complex botanical bill.
Tasting
The nose is immediately unusual. Minty, menthol-laden green notes lead — fresh and invigorating — with white cardamom adding a Chai-inspired warmth. There are surprising notes of kiwano melon, tarragon, and cucumber that create an exotic, almost tropical dimension. Creamy lemon curd, grapefruit zest, chamomile, and verbena add further layers. Under this lively top, rain-soaked herbal notes counteract rooty, earthy undertones. It is a nose that evolves continuously.
On the palate, musky rose and bitter orange zest create a floral-citrus opening. Cardamom is abundant — warm, aromatic, and genuinely spicy. Menthol-tinged botanicals evoke comparisons with mint, but the actual character is closer to lemon balm and anise myrtle — more herbal than confectionery. There are notes of green herbal tea, and ripe juniper blossoms on the late palate, arriving just when you need the reminder that this is, fundamentally, gin. The 45% ABV carries everything with Swiss efficiency.
The finish is herbal and cardamom-spiced, with an Alpine freshness that lingers — clean, bracing, and distinctly mountainous.
How to Drink It
The Alpine character makes nginious! a natural for a G&T with Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic — garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme or a thin slice of cucumber. For cocktails, the minty, herbal character makes it a fascinating base for a Southside or a Gin Basil Smash. The cardamom intensity also makes it excellent in a chai-inspired gin cocktail — shake with honey syrup and lemon juice, serve strained.
The Bottom Line
nginious! Swiss Blended Gin earns a 7.5 for demonstrating that Swiss precision applied to 18 Alpine botanicals can produce a gin of genuine distinction. The hay flowers, clover blossoms, and carline thistle root give it a character that no other country's gin can replicate, and the minty, herbal freshness is invigorating and unique. The cardamom abundance will not suit every palate, but for those who enjoy aromatic, herbal gins with genuine provenance, nginious! is a Alpine gem. At around £42, the Swiss production and exotic botanical bill justify the price.
