Generous Azur

Violet, elderflower and basil give Generous Azur its Mediterranean accent. Maison Villevert makes it in the Cognac region, the same family house behind G'Vine, and the bottle is filled at 40% ABV as the coastal member of the Generous range, a line launched in 2015 in which each gin follows a landscape.

Citrus · Floral · Herbal

Bitter orange and blood orange handle the citrus, juniper holds the frame, and the three aromatics do the rest. The producer's own notes describe Mediterranean citrus on the nose with violet and hints of basil, then fresh violet, basil and blood orange on the palate, closing on bitter orange. That order matters: the flowers arrive early and the bitterness late, which is what keeps a floral gin from tasting like perfume.

Poured neat, the aroma is bright and clean, blood orange first, then the violet and elderflower behind it, with basil adding a green, faintly peppery edge.

The palate is supple and expressive: juniper stays discreet but present, the blood orange is juicy, the peel gives a light bitterness, and basil turns up in the middle with a savoury contrast that stops the fruit from getting sweet. The finish is moderate in length, citrus zest and floral sweetness fading over a herbal echo, with no sugar left hanging.

A neutral or lightly floral tonic suits it, with fresh basil, an orange peel or a couple of berries as garnish: 4cl of gin, 10cl of cold tonic, plenty of ice. Villevert also sells the range in a Citrus and a Wild version, so the family is easy to compare. Keep the basil whole rather than bruised, since crushed leaves overtake the violet immediately. The same profile makes it a natural in a Gin Fizz, a French 75French 75Gin, lemon juice and sugar, topped with champagne. It is named after the French 75 mm field gun of the First World War.Glossary or a light spritz, where the citrus and the flowers stay legible next to wine or soda.