Deep purple-red in the glass, Pozvačin Purple Gin looks nothing like the clear London Dry it starts from. Destilarna Pozvačin, a small distillery in Gornja Bistrica in north-eastern Slovenia, takes its original gin and adds fresh Slovenian ingredients, which it keeps secret. The result is bottled at 40% ABV in a 50 cl bottle, under a white label that still shows the ribboned figure of the pozvačin.

Floral · Herbal

That figure comes from Slovenian folklore: the pozvačin was the joker and master of ceremonies at village weddings, who invited the guests in person and kept their glasses full. The producer describes its gins as a meeting of traditional gin-making and the playfulness of that folk tradition. In Purple Gin the playful side is the colour, which comes from the added ingredients rather than from the distillation itself. Both gins share the same bottle shape, so the colour is the first thing that tells them apart on a shelf.

Because the additions are not disclosed, the best way to approach the gin is by comparison. Taste the original London Dry and then the Purple side by side: juniper remains the common thread, while the fresh ingredients bring a rounder, fruitier impression and the colour that sets the bottle apart. Serving it well chilled helps keep that fruit lively and the colour bright.

In a gin and tonic, a lemon twist and a single edible violet make a discreet garnish that matches the colour without masking the gin; on its own, the citrus peel is enough if violets are hard to find. Pour the tonic gradually, since a pale mixer will soften the purple hue as it lengthens the drink. Served over ice on its own, it also makes a striking aperitif for a celebration, in the spirit of the wedding host on its label.