FIRST JOURNEYS - EUROPEAN EXPEDITION- PIN 02 OF 40
AUDEMUS PINK PEPPER GIN - Cognac, France
A ROAD TRIP WHERE EVERY STOP HAS A STORY
Today’s journey doesn’t take me far—I’ve travelled just down the coast from Île d’Oléron to the historic town of Cognac, where I’m stopping for a peek inside the home of Pink Pepper Gin.
And when I say home, I really do mean home—the distillery began in the living room of one of the founders!
Founded in 2013 by Australian-born Mika, a former Cognac distiller, and his business partner Ian, Pink Pepper Gin was created from a desire to combine traditional craftsmanship with modern distilling techniques.
Based in the heart of Cognac’s old town, their approach reflects the character of the region itself: a place where centuries-old spirit-making traditions sit alongside a new generation of creative producers.
Each unique batch is named in honour of family and friends who supported and inspired their journey, recognising the people who helped turn a dream of creating their own spirits brand into reality.
The production process is a true labour of love. Rather than distilling all the botanicals together, each one is individually vacuum distilled before being carefully blended, allowing every
ingredient to contribute its own character. With each batch taking months to create, this is certainly a gin made with patience.
The botanical list includes pink peppercorns, juniper, vanilla, honey, tonka bean, cinnamon, green cardamom and two further secret ingredients.
This is a wonderfully distinctive gin.
For me, it evokes the richness of a mille-feuille, with layers of flavour unfolding like buttery pastry, vanilla crème pâtissière and perhaps even a boozy crème brûlée. Sweet, warming and indulgent, it’s certainly not a conventional London Dry style.
For today’s cocktail, I wanted something that reflected both Mika’s history as a Cognac distiller and the town that inspired this gin. The result is a sophisticated twist on a classic—perfect for sipping slowly and appreciating the craftsmanship behind the bottle.
In a town built on centuries of distilling expertise, Pink Pepper Gin brings a fresh perspective to the world of French spirits.
From the Atlantic coast to the heart of Cognac, today’s stop reveals a gin born from a love of craftsmanship, creativity and the spirit-making heritage of this historic town.
AMPERSAND
- 25ml Rémy Martin VSOP Champagne Cognac
- 25ml Pink Pepper Gin
- 25ml Sweet Vermouth
- 2 dashes orange bitters
Stir with ice until chilled and strain into a glass.
Despite not being a regular Cognac drinker, this was a surprisingly enjoyable combination—the gin adding spice, sweetness and complexity to a very grown-up cocktail.