There are gins that speak of their terroir with such clarity that a single sip transports you to their place of origin. Portofino Dry Gin is one such spirit — a London Dry that carries the sun-warmed hillsides of the Italian Riviera in every measure.
A Botanical Garden in a Bottle
What strikes me immediately about Portofino is the ambition of its botanical bill. Juniper provides the structural backbone one expects from any credible London Dry, but it is the supporting cast — lemon, lavender, rosemary, marjoram, sage, iris and rose — that elevates this gin into something genuinely distinctive. These are not exotic imports or laboratory extracts; they are botanicals grown on the hills of Portofino itself, and that provenance matters. There is an integrity to sourcing your aromatics from the same landscape that inspired the spirit, and it lends Portofino a coherence that many contemporary gins struggle to achieve.
Style and Character
At 43% ABV, Portofino sits comfortably within the classic London Dry strength range — enough power to carry its botanicals without the heat that can overwhelm more delicate ingredients. The combination of Mediterranean herbs and florals suggests a gin that balances savoury complexity with gentle perfumed elegance. Rosemary and sage bring an earthy, almost garrigue-like quality, while lavender and rose offer a softer, more romantic counterpoint. Lemon provides the citrus brightness that every well-constructed London Dry demands, and iris — that most subtle of botanicals — hints at a powdery, rooted depth beneath the surface.
It is, in many ways, a gin that respects the London Dry tradition while drawing deeply from its Italian heritage. The discipline of the London Dry method — no added flavourings post-distillation — means every note must be captured during the single distillation run. When executed well with botanicals of this calibre, the result can be remarkable.
Best Served
I would reach for Portofino in a classic G&T with Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic, garnished with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a thin wheel of lemon. The tonic's herbal character complements the gin's provenance beautifully. It would also hold its own in a Martini, where the floral and herbal notes can express themselves without competition — though I would suggest a lighter hand with the vermouth to let those hillside botanicals sing.
At £43.95, Portofino Dry Gin sits at the premium end of the market, but the quality of its botanical sourcing and the distinctiveness of its character justify the investment. This is a gin with a genuine sense of place — not merely Italian-themed, but Italian-grown. I score it 7.8 out of 10: a well-crafted London Dry with real provenance and personality, one that rewards those who appreciate the connection between landscape and spirit.
