Do you like drinking gin? Did you know that Croatia has its own gin? Not just one! Read this blog and get to know Croatian gin brands that compete with world famous gin brands with ease.
Croatia is known for many things, but did you know that Croatian gin is also known? Not only is it famous, but many Croatian gin brands compete with the most famous gins in the world. One of the Croatian gins, 2019, was even named the best gin in the world.
But before we taste Croatian gin, let's take a step back and take a look at the tradition of gin. What is this distilled alcoholic drink made of and what types exist? These questions will now be answered. Also, we will take a brief look at the history of gin, as it is quite interesting.
Here we go!
Taking a Step back: What Kind of Drink is Gin?
Juniperus Comnmunis – the very heart of this popular drink. In fact, the juniper berry is essential for the recognizable taste of gin. The distilled alcoholic beverage has a very interesting history.
Initially, this drink was made by monks as a medicinal liqueur. The first sources report from the 17th century. Here it is mentioned that the doctor Franciscus Sylvius used a juniper liquor called genever for healing. When the Flemish William III. conquered the throne of England, he brought the genever from his homeland.
Furthermore, English soldiers, who were deployed in the Dutch-Spanish War to support Holland, brought the genever to Britain. On the British Island, juniper liquor was then given the name gin. In 1690, a decree stipulated that gin could only be made from English grain.
In 1791 the Gin Act was regulated. During the gin era, many distilleries experimented with the gin recipe, but within the confines of the gin act. This is how the famous recipe of the London Dry Gin came about.
London Dry Gin is one of the most famous gin varieties, but not the only one. Now we will taste our way through the different types of gin.
Types of Gin
In Europe, there are mainly three types of gin. The distinction is based on the purity law. This means the manufacturing method. The gin is therefore categorized based on how it is made and not on its taste. The three most famous types of gin are London Dry Gin, Dry Gin and Sloe Gin.
Now let's take a closer look at the mentioned gin varieties!
London Dry Gin
One might assume that the London Dry Gin must come from London. The original London Dry Gin comes from London, but a gin does not necessarily have to be made in London to be classified as a London Dry Gin. Characteristic of the London Dry Gin is that the minimum alcohol content must be 37.5% and must be based on vegetable alcohol.
Only natural flavourings are allowed and it is crucial that all flavouring ingredients are added at the same time. No other ingredients may be added later. The juniper berry taste predominates in most of them, but there are also some in which a different flavouring predominates.
Well-known among the London Dry Gins are the Tanqueray London Dry Gin, Beefeater 24 and the Bombay Saphire Gin.
Dry Gin
The difference between London Dry Gin and Dry Gin, or Distilled Gin, is that the rules are not as strict here as with London Dry Gin. The dry gin must be distilled and natural, but also nature-like spices may be added.
Now the crucial difference: when making the dry gin, the ingredients and flavourings can be added at any time. In addition, natural colourings can also be used here, which is clearly forbidden with London Dry Gin.
Gins, Hendricks Gin and Gin Mare are well-known here.
Sloe Gin
Now we have come to the sloe gin. The sloe gin is also assigned to the liqueur category because it does not always reach the minimum alcohol content of 37.5%.
Sloe Gin can be recognized by its reddish colour. What is special about the production of sloe gin is that this gin is not distilled, but prepared. Here the taste of the sloe berry predominates.
The well-known sloe gins are Ferdinands Saar Quince Gin and Monkey 47 Sloe Gin.
Other typical gins are the New Western Dry Gin, the Old Tom Gin and the Pink Gin. Here the flavours differ the most. The Western Dry Gin has said goodbye to the dominant juniper aroma. Old Tom Gin, one of the first gin varieties, is mixed with sugar and the pink gin gets its pink colour because it is mixed with strawberries.
Recommendation: These Spices go best with these Gins
Before we dive into Croatian gins, we offer you a small recommendation as to which spices go best with which types of gin.
The London Dry Gins like the Tanqueray London Dry Gin, the Beefeater 24 and the Bombay Saphire Gin go very well with stronger spices like lime and pine aromas. The Indian Tonic Water is a great addition to this.
Cucumbers, roses and the elderberry tonic mix well with the dry gin. The Gin Mare goes perfectly with citrus fruits and is even recommended to be drunk warm.
The fruity gins, such as the pink gin, are super in combination with other berries. It is also advisable to add a little bit of mint and the accompanying tonic should be classic or made of elderberry.
Enjoy your drink!
The Croatian Gins
But now we come to the main point: Croatian gins, which compete with the world-famous gin brands in both quality and taste.
Croatian gin producers offer a wide range of gins. Now we get to know some of them.
Old Pilot's Gin - The Best Gin in the World 2019
We start our "tasting" with the winning gin, the Old Pilots Gin. The Old Pilot's Gin is a London Dry Gin, which is made exclusively from Croatian, Mediterranean plants and plants from continental Croatia. The jury of the International World Spirit Competition awarded this gin the title of the best London Dry Gin in the world 2019.
The special selection of ingredients consists of, juniper, sweet and bitter oranges, lavender, olive leaves, sage and angelica.
Crane Town Gin - Gin from the Daruvar Region
The Crane Town Gin from Daruvar is assigned to the dry gin variety. The owner of the recipe, Igor Rihter, emphasizes the authenticity of this product with the hand-picked and dried plants of the Rihter family.
The recipe consists of 20 different plants that grow on the Papuk mountains. The aromas of pine, angelica, elderberry and camomile are dominant here. This dry gin is rich in the scent of pine, elder and a hint of citrus.
Galeb Gin – Idea developed in Germany out of Love for Croatia
The maker of this Galeb Gin couldn't resist his Croatian roots. It is well known that many Croatians have found their second home in Germany. So did the ancestors of Kriss who come from Mediterranean Dalmatia.
In 2018, during the football World Cup, the Croats in Germany were of course also in euphoria. Especially in Stuttgart, since some of the Croats live here and in the surrounding area. According to Kriss, the idea of the Mediterranean dry gin called Galeb Gin was born right here in Stuttgart during the World Cup.
With his partner Joe he developed the Mediterranean gin from Mediterranean ingredients. The aromas of figs, tangy lemons and oranges dominate here. Mediterranean style characterizes also the name of the gin. Galeb, which translates to seagull, represents the freedom seen in a seagull gliding along the Dalmatian coast.
The design reminds and reflects the Croatian check pattern coat of arms. Thus, it is recognizable everywhere where the ingredients of this gin come from. It should also be mentioned that this gin received double gold in Hong Kong.
Murska Dekla - A Story of Friendship
The story of Murska Dekla gin comes from Međimurje. It was here that the idea of this gin was developed by friends Ivan, Jura and Marko. These three nature-loving friends developed this gin to show their love for nature. It should therefore be emphasized that all the ingredients of this gin are of organic origin. This gin also won some medals.
In the IWSC competition, this gin received the silver medal and bronze in the London Spirits Competitions. It is recommended to drink this gin with classic tonic and a slice of lime. The tonic should be prepared with as little sugar as possible.
Luftbremzer Gin - The Gin of the Hedonists
The Luftbremzer is a Germanization used to describe a hedonist in Croatia. This Luftbremzer gin is intended for such hedonistic moments. The owner of this distillery, which is located in the vicinity of Sljeme, is Filip Presečki. This gin received bronze in 2019, at the San Francisco Spirits Competition. It is a London Dry Gin.
The juniper berry is dominant, but with a floral touch of elderberry and chamomile. The notes of Mediterranean herbs and citrus fruits can also be tasted. The gin is spiced with the Angelica plant and the iris root.
Trut Gin – The Gin of the Island of Korčula
The Trut Gin comes from the island of Korčula. In this gin, citrus fruits experience a new development. Fresh lemon peel is combined with an aromatic variety of wild mint.
A sweet note is added with the addition of honey. Of course, all the ingredients come from the gardens of Korčula. This is a dry gin developed by the young beekeeper Vlaho Komparak.
Now we got to know the Croatian gins. As it can be seen, our blog headline "Croatian Gins Competing with Global Gin Brands" is fully validated. Some of the presented Croatian gins have been awarded medals at prestigious competitions. This shows that these gins are really worth trying.
At what time of the year do you enjoy gin better than in summertime? The warmth of this time of year is best endured with a cool, sparkling gin tonic. Especially on summer vacation, while lying on the beach or relaxing on a lounger in front of the pool, it is a good idea to enjoy a glass of quality gin.
Don't miss this opportunity and enjoy Croatian gins right on the Croatian coast. Not only taste the Mediterranean touch of gin, but also experience the Mediterranean nature of Croatia.
Do not forget that, for a great holiday, you also need great accommodation. Feel free to browse our wide range of villas with private pools along the Croatian coast. Here you will find your perfect spot under the sun to enjoy your gin the right way!
For all your questions we are here for you!
Thanks for reading and Cheers!
