Squirus Gin 'Vulgaris' is a Belgian artisanal gin created by Squirus Gin, a project born from two friends who wanted to connect their interest in gin with a shared attachment to nature. The brand presents its work through local ingredients, original flavour associations and awareness of the fragility of natural ecosystems. Vulgaris is the woody and fruity expression in the Squirus range, built around an identity inspired by the habits and natural environment of the red squirrel.

The recipe is structured around three principal ingredients: chestnut, fir and wild bilberry. Chestnut was chosen as a direct reference to the squirrel, for which it is a familiar food source, and gives the gin its fuller, more rounded character. Fir was selected for its link with the forest environment and for the freshness it brings to both the nose and palate. Wild bilberry completes the profile with a restrained fruit note, adding a blue-berry character without taking the gin toward an overtly sweet style. Juniper remains the essential gin foundation beneath these more distinctive local ingredients.

On the nose, Vulgaris opens with a fresh coniferous impression. Fir brings a clean, forest-like aromatic lift, while juniper contributes its familiar dry and resinous structure. Chestnut follows with a more rounded and softly nutty dimension. The bilberry note remains discreet, giving the aroma a gentle fruit accent rather than a jam-like sweetness.

On the palate, the gin develops from fresh and herbal toward a more wooded profile. The fir maintains tension and freshness, while chestnut gives the middle of the palate a broader, slightly gourmand impression. Wild bilberry adds a subtle fruity nuance that softens the more resinous elements. The finish is clean, moderately persistent and balanced between juniper, forest freshness, chestnut depth and delicate berry fruit.

Squirus Gin 'Vulgaris' can be served in a gin and tonic with a tonic that remains relatively neutral or lightly Mediterranean in style. A small rosemary sprig can underline the fresh herbal side, while a few blueberries or a restrained touch of pink pepper can complement the fruity and wooded profile without masking the gin. The expression received a Silver medal in 2023 at the Concours International de Lyon.