FIRST JOURNEYS - 80 GINS AROUND THE WORLD - PIN 20 OF 80
SáMARA GIN - Costa Rica
AROUND THE WORLD, ONE BOTTLE AT A TIME,
PHILEAS FOGG WOULD SURELY APPROVE
I'm continuing my journey south through Central America and stopping in Costa Rica, where I've revisited a bottle that has become something of a keepsake in my collection. Sámara Gin marks the end of the first quarter of my 80-day virtual tour, and it seems the perfect place to pause and reflect before setting off on the next leg of the adventure.
Although the gin was distilled here in the UK, its heart was always firmly in Costa Rica. Founders Eduardo Montero and his wife Ana drew inspiration from Eduardo's homeland, creating a gin that captured the colours, aromas and laid-back spirit of the country's Pacific coast.
The gin focuses on floral botanicals, including hibiscus, rose, elderflower and rosehip, balanced with honey, cardamom and orange peel to evoke the warmth of the tropics. Their aim was to create a spirit that could transport you to Costa Rica with every sip, and I think they achieved exactly that.
The brand may no longer be with us, which makes this bottle all the more special. Sadly, not every craft distillery or independent brand survives, but their stories deserve to live on. One of the joys of this Atlas is preserving those stories alongside the bottles themselves.
In my mind, I'm sitting on Playa Sámara, watching another spectacular Pacific sunset. Costa Rica is often called the "Rich Coast", but it's also famous for its "Blue Zones"—places where people are thought to enjoy unusually long, healthy lives. The Nicoya Peninsula, where Sámara is located, is one of only a handful of recognised Blue Zones in the world, with a lifestyle built around community, fresh local food and a slower pace of life.
The coastline here is just as remarkable. Offshore lies the protected waters of Bahía Sámara, where dolphins are regular visitors and, at certain times of year, humpback whales migrate along the Pacific coast to breed and give birth. It's easy to understand why this part of Costa Rica feels so peaceful.
Magic happens when the sun sinks below the horizon, and no two sunsets are ever quite the same. As I sip this G&T, it's not difficult to imagine being barefoot on a Sámara beach, reflecting on the journey so far and looking ahead to the many countries still waiting to be explored.
Sometimes a bottle is more than just a gin. Sometimes it's a reminder of a place, a dream and a brand that, although no longer producing spirits, still deserves its place on the map.
“Some journeys are measured in miles, others in moments.”
Sometimes a bottle is more than just a gin. Sometimes it's a reminder of a place, a dream and a brand that, although no longer producing spirits, still deserves its place on the map.
"Show me a bottle
and I'll tell you a story."