In the Orobic valleys above Bergamo, Val Brembana, Val Imagna and Val Seriana, DOA picks by hand the three varieties of juniper that make up the entire botanical recipe of Orobic Juniper. The independent distillery, Distilleria Orobica Autonoma, works in Bracca, in the province of Bergamo, and bottles this London Dry at 47% ABV in 70 cl. It is a special edition, and its purple label carries L'Angelo dell'Amore, a drawing by the artist Paola Meneghetti that the label presents as a symbol of protection, serenity and joy.

Dry · Herbal

The base is a certified organic wheat spirit. The gin is distilled by hand in small batches in the distillery's own copper still, following the traditional London Dry method, with nothing added after distillation. Each label carries a lot number, a reminder that the gin is made in short runs. Using juniper alone is a deliberate choice: with no citrus peel or spice to lean on, the differences between the three valley berries become the whole subject of the gin.

DOA describes the profile as intense and refined, with balsamic, resinous and herbaceous notes and a delicate citrus touch that comes from the juniper itself. The pine-like resin is clearest on the nose, while the palate turns greener and more herbal before a long, dry finish. At 47% ABV the texture is full, and a few drops of water bring out the softer, citrus side of the berries.

The distillery suggests drinking it neat or on the rocks, or in a minimal gin and tonic with a neutral tonic and a strip of lemon zest. It also works in cocktails designed to show off juniper, such as a very dry Martini with just a twist of lemon. For comparison, the same house makes Orobic Berries, a 43% London Dry with a broader recipe.