Bottega Bacur uses a short, intelligible botanical list: juniper, sage leaves and lemon zest. Bottega makes this Italian distilled dry gin through a long maceration followed by double distillation, then bottles it at 40% ABV. The copper-coloured bottle is distinctive, yet the recipe itself is deliberately spare. Sage supplies an herbal note that is different from the usual coriander-heavy gin, while lemon keeps the aroma open and fresh. The three named plants give a useful guide to the finished drink without requiring a long catalogue of imagined ingredients.

Juniper leads with its familiar resinous dryness. Lemon zest lifts the nose and sage gives the middle a green, slightly savoury edge. The finish comes back to the gin's dry centre rather than turning sweet or perfumed. Taste a small measure cool and neat to notice how the sage changes the lemon, then try a little water if you want the herbs to become clearer. Because the recipe is concise, every addition to a cocktail matters; strong fruit juice would quickly take over the drink.

Indian tonic, generous ice, a lemon twist and one fresh sage leaf are enough. Put the leaf and peel among the ice and leave another pair beside the glass to appreciate the fragrance. Add tonic slowly so the herbal character remains easy to find. A light rub of the sage leaf releases its scent, but crushing it would make it bitter. The result is a straightforward aperitif that follows the actual botanicals of Bacur instead of decorating it with flavours it does not contain.