Le Tribute gin spirit review – review

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At the town with the peculiar name Vilanova y la Geltrou, only a few kilometers far from Barcelona, the establishments of the distillery MG Destilerias are situated. A distillery belonging to a family that began by producing alcohol for pharmaceutical reasons and now creates, among others, the gin we are tasting today. Le Tribute gin is the last project of the 5^th generation owners and members of the family Giro, of whose projects Gin Mare is probably the most acknowledged.

The involvement of the house with spirits goes back to 1940, when the back then distiller and owner Manuel Giro created the gin MG, one of the highest selling gins in Spain. Since then, MG Destillerias never stopped distilling alcohol for the pleasure of the palate and not for the cure of the organism. The new generation, Marc and Manuel junior, grandchildren of the grandfather Manuel, decided to move a step forwards while preserving the legacy of the house, by creating something different and innovating. Thus, after Gin Mare in 2007, they created Le Tribute gin.

Inside the bottle of Le Tribute gin

In fact, Le Tribute gin is inspired by the long history of the house in the production of pharmaceutical syrups and elixirs and this is reflected in the whole promotion of the product, from its’ name to the beautiful bottle. This way they paid tribute to the current pioneers of LE=Liquid Experience.

The innovation of the brand lies mostly in its’ recipe and the production procedure, while no peculiar and exotic ingredients are being used. For the gin Le Tribute we have seven different distillations with different botanicals each, six in neutral wheat and barley alcohol and one in water. In the first batch juniper is being distilled, in the second limes, in the third kumquat, in the fourth lemons, pink and green grapefruits, in the fifth mandarins, in the sixth cardamom, sweet and bitter oranges and in the seventh lemongrass in water! The last distillation of lemongrass in water or, to be more precise in vapor, is made exactly like the production of rose blossom water, in order to keep all its’ freshness. Due to this last distillation in water it loses its’ denomination as London Dry Gin, since, according to legislation to the latter all adds except for alcohol and sugar are forbidden.

Next, all the distinct distillations are mixed together in different percentages, drop the alcoholic grades of the final blend at 43% abv. and are bottled in a beautiful bottle that reminds of the pharmaceutical elixirs of the past century and their small bottles.

The series Le Tribute also contains a premium tonic water, which is especially designed to match with the gin -and is already at our headquarters to be tasted- as well as a mezcal from Durango, Mexico.

Le Tribute gin in our glasses

Tasting the gin Le Tribute, one can understand the width of complexity from the citrus aromas “enclosed” in a glass filled with a transparent liquid with silver hues. A feast of aromas of orange, grapefruit, lime, lemon, lemon blossoms and kumquat. Juniper is there, quite discreet, and is being fulfilled by some quite botanical and fresh aromas of lemon verbena and sage.

Its palate is dry of course, with a medium minus body and smooth texture. Alluring notes of cardamom and a nostalgic sense from lemon cologne are completing the citric bouquet that led the way. At the nose and palate one realizes how finely homogenized are all these citric aromatic compounds. Refreshing and light, with an alcohol level that doesn’t become disturbing by any means, probably the exact opposite happens, it is thoroughly charming.

We will definitely try it also with tonic water, nevertheless our first impressions were great. For sure it is not a classic London Dry Gin, but certainly a gin that will be loved by those who begin drinking gin, as well as by the “connoisseurs” that are seeking to taste some different and fine.

Rating

Timos Spanos rating: 85/ 100

Yiannis Korovesis rating: 90/ 100

Average rating: 87.5/ 100

Producer/ Owner: MG Destilerias

Country of production and bottling: Vilanova y la Geltrou, Spain

Alcoholic degrees: 43% abv.

Type: Distilled Gin

Bottle size: 700 ml

Imported in Greece by: –

Translation by Eleni Tsirimokou