A former Tuscan Chardonnay cask gives Sabatini Gin Barrel its rounded, vinous character. Bottled at 45.5% ABV, it retains the established recipe of juniper, Florentine orris, coriander, olive leaves, sage, thyme, lavender, wild fennel and lemon verbena. The cask is not a decorative detail: it adds a new layer to a gin already shaped by the herbs, flowers and cultivated landscape around the Sabatini family home.

The aroma brings together dried herbs, polished wood and a faint vinous roundness. Juniper and coriander remain the backbone, while olive leaf, sage and thyme give the middle a savoury Tuscan character. Lavender and lemon verbena lighten the upper register; wild fennel contributes a subtle aniseed freshness. The former Chardonnay barrel rounds these notes with soft oak and a mineral, wine-derived breadth rather than turning the gin overtly sweet.

The palate is fuller and slower than the unaged Sabatini. Orris and oak give the texture weight, then the herbs unfold in layers before a dry, gently spicy finish. At 45.5%, the gin has the concentration to carry the cask without losing its botanical definition. It is particularly rewarding at room temperature, where the wood, wine and aromatic leaves can be followed without the sharp chill that would close them down.

Serve 4 cl neat in a small tulip-shaped tasting glass at room temperature. Place one lemon verbena leaf and one small sage leaf at the rim, then arrange a second pair with two toasted hazelnuts on a dish beside the glass. No tonic or ice is needed. The leaves recall the documented recipe, while the hazelnuts complement the rounded oak without adding sweetness to the drink.