First Impressions
Aatta Gin — named from the Orcadian dialect meaning 'to possess or own' — comes from the Orkney Gin Company on Scotland's northern islands. The gin is distilled a remarkable eight times, each pass refining the spirit and extracting more precision from the eight botanicals. The number eight is clearly a motif: eight distillations, eight botanicals, and the care of a distillery that believes repetition breeds perfection.
The Distillery
The Orkney Gin Company produces Aatta using a selection of eight carefully sourced botanicals: whole Croatian juniper adding piney green freshness, fresh Sicilian oranges forming a bright zest, hand-picked rosehips creating a lively floral touch with their earthy seeds, cinnamon sticks adding an earthy yet slightly sweet component, and whole Madagascan vanilla giving the spirit a long velvety finish. The eight-fold distillation is unusual in gin production and contributes to the exceptionally smooth mouthfeel.
Tasting
The nose is led by orange and a fresh green note — bright, inviting, and clean. The multiple distillations have stripped away any roughness, leaving pure, well-defined aromatics.
On the palate, piney juniper from the Croatian berries provides the backbone, transitioning into bright orange and light vanilla. Herbaceous, green, earthy notes from the rosehip seeds add complexity. The texture is sleek — a direct result of the eight distillations — with balanced sweet orange zest, gently aromatic vanilla, and a fruity tang from the rosehips. At 44% ABV, there is ample body for the botanicals to express themselves.
The finish carries medium citrus, spice, and a subtle vanilla sweetness. The Madagascan vanilla contributes a smooth, velvety quality that extends the finish. It is a clean, well-defined conclusion.
How to Drink It
The exceptional smoothness makes Aatta a natural for a Martini — the vanilla adds a subtle richness that is luxurious with dry vermouth. In a G&T, use Fever-Tree Indian Tonic and garnish with an orange wheel to amplify the Sicilian citrus botanical.
The Bottom Line
Orkney Gin Company Aatta earns a 7.5 for demonstrating that meticulous production — eight distillations, eight carefully sourced botanicals — produces a gin of genuine refinement. The smoothness is exceptional, the orange and vanilla create an appealing sweetness, and the rosehips add complexity that distinguishes it from simpler gins. At around £39, the Orkney provenance and the labour-intensive distillation justify the price. A tremendous sipper from Scotland's northern islands.
