Naturæ Gin, hailing from Italy, is the brainchild of two friends, Carlo de Filippo and Diego Sgarbossa, who launched the brand in 2021.

Theirs is a story rooted in a shared enthusiasm for botany. Carlo's expertise is in horticulture and fruit farming, a field he's navigated for over a decade, while Diego has sharpened his knowledge of aromatic herbs through his culinary journey in Michelin-starred restaurants.

Their flagship product, Naturæ Gin Fructetum, takes its inspiration from the concept of a fructetum - that is a botanical garden dedicated to the study of growing fruits. There’re no prizes for guessing this is intended as a fruit-forward gin. The choice of botanicals is a nod to Italy's agricultural landscape, featuring juniper, icilian oranges, Calabrian bergamot, Trentino apples, rose hips, coriander seeds and Cubeb pepper. It’s crafted in the London Dry style, which would mean that all the flavours are distilled into the spirit, without any added essences or flavours after distillation.

Sustainability is a theme of the brand too. The gin’s base alcohol spirit (so this excludes the botanicals) is certified organic. The attractive frosted glass bottle that the gin comes in is made from 100% post-consumer recycled glass. It’s also worth noting that Naturæ Gin was recognised as the Best Italian London Dry style gin at the 2022 World Gin Awards.

Let’s give this a taste.

Naturæ Gin Fructetum, London Dry Gin, 43% ABV – Review

Nose: Refreshing and slightly sharp. Crisp, piney juniper immediately greets you while underscored by a slight woody undertone, setting a vibrant London Dry. There's an undeniable sweetness that follows, reminiscent of lychees and soapberries, weaving in beautifully with the zest of fresh lemons and the slight bitterness of orange peel. Citrus evolves into a peppery spice and is rounded off by the earthy, herbal nuances of coriander, adding layers to the aroma. There's also a hint of solvent and a touch of minerality. 

Palate: Medium bodied with a pleasantly oily and unctuous mouthfeel that envelops the tongue. Juniper continues to lead, with a classic piney and resinous note that dominates with a fair bit of warmth and heat that fill the mouth. It’s on the much sweet side of gins – with a berry-like sweetness of black currants and gooseberries, complemented by warm vanilla and the spice of cassia bark (Chinese cinnamon).

Citrus notes actually seem a bit subdued here, with the spotlight instead falling on the abundant herbal and floral undercurrents including tons of coriander, white florals and even a hint of rose.

Finish: Long, clean and warm. The piney warmth from the palate persists, along with a peppery bite that tingles the back of the throat.

My Thoughts

This is remarkably layered with quite a surprising level of sweetness against the background of juniper nuances and peppery bite. It’s a gin that holds its own when you sip it neat. The peppery ride that it offers - which I quite enjoyed - also makes for a solid martini gin in my opinion.  

I would really love this if it had a stronger presence of citrus on the palate. That said, with its layers and nuances built on a solid backbone of juniper, this gin is a very solid offering.

@CharsiuCharlie