El Invento – Audemus Pink Pepper Gin
Well, there are really too much gins out there. It is impossible to keep up with the already existing qualities and than there still are new releases. However, today I want to write about a gin which caught my attention a few years ago. Yet, it took until now for me to get around to try it. For a cocktail using it, I create a kind of Bamboo variation.
The Audemus Pink Pepper Gin is distilled in the city of Cognac, France. However, the gin is meant to be a contemporary interpretation of classic gins. Therefore, the folks behind it use cardamom, cinnamon, honey, juniper, pink peppercorns, tonka beans, vanilla, and two secret botanicals. The gin has an ABV of 44 %.
Peppery, but almost classic
Obviously, a gin named after pink peppercorns has to taste as promised by the name. Nevertheless, the juniper and resinous notes are clearly noticeable. Apart from that, you can taste a lot of other spices and some citrus notes. The alcohol is well integrated, with just a slight whiff of menthol. All in all, I enjoyed the gin very much and can imagine it working well in all sorts of classic gin cocktails, e.g. Negronis.
Still a Bamboo?
Matthias Soberon brought to my attention that it is Sherry Week. Therefore, I decided to pair the Audemus Gin with vermouth and sherry to create a kind of fortified Bamboo cocktail. Since I had the feeling (or I read somewhere) that roses pair well with pink peppercorns, I also added a splash of rose eau de vie.
0,75 cl Engel Rose Eau de Vie
2,25 cl Mancino Bianco Vermouth
2,25 cl Lustau Oloroso Sherry
Garnish: Rose Blossom;
Song: José González – El Invento;
The “El Invento” starts with typical Bamboo cocktail notes of sherry and vermouth. However, the gin and the rose eau de vie take the drink into a slightly different direction. On top of that, the Bianco vermouth and the slightly sweeter sherry also make the drink taste smoother and sweeter than the regular drink. In my opinion, the flavours work together very beautifully here. So, this makes the cocktail the perfect sip before a lavish dinner during the colder days of the year.
*The fact that I received a product reviewed in this article for free, did not – in any way – influence the rating of said product. The gin was provided by Charles Hosie.
