From Sicily comes the blood orange, and from the Amalfi Coast the lemon, that give Latin Beach Gin its sunny, citrus-led character. Italian juniper from Tuscany holds them together, joined by herbs from the Italian Alps and a selection of tropical botanicals, and the gin is cut with water from Mont Blanc. It is bottled at 41% ABV in a 70 cl bottle whose bright blue glass matches the seaside name perfectly.

Citrus · Fruity · Herbal

The gin is made at a family-owned Italian distillery with some 120 years of history. It uses vacuum distillation, which lets the spirit boil at a lower temperature and so protects the most delicate aromas, an advantage for fresh citrus peel that can turn dull or bitter when heated too strongly. Water from the Mont Blanc massif, on the French side of the Alps, then brings the distillate down to bottling strength. Latin Beach is the summer counterpart of Latin Secco, the house's drier, more classic gin.

The producer's tasting notes start with blood orange and lime zest, followed by fresh juniper, a touch of tropical fruit and the green note of alpine herbs, before a clean finish. Blood orange gives a deeper, rounder citrus than ordinary orange, while the Amalfi lemon keeps the middle bright. Tasted neat and cool, the contrast between the two fruits is easiest to follow; over ice, the tropical side comes forward.

Latin Gin sums up its purpose as a kiss of citrus for the perfect summer gin and tonic. Build it over plenty of ice, add a thin slice of blood orange and a small lemon twist, and pour the tonic in stages so that the juniper is still there after the first sip. The house also suggests serving it alongside grilled seafood, fresh salads, soft cheese or Mediterranean tapas.