FIRST JOURNEYS - EUROPEAN EXPEDITION- PIN 06 OF 40
Neighbours 11 - Costa Alentejana, Portugal
The journey so far...
A ROAD TRIP WHERE EVERY STOP HAS A STORY
After a brief detour to indulge in Portugal's famous custard tarts, it's time to get back on the road. Today's first stop takes me south to the Costa Alentejana, where rugged Atlantic cliffs, unspoilt beaches and rolling cork-covered hills provide the backdrop to one of Portugal's most innovative distilleries.
Ginbow Fine Spirits is home to the wonderfully original Neighbours 11 Gin—a bottle that proves great gin is as much about imagination as it is botanicals.
The recipe contains ten carefully selected botanicals, but the clue is in the name… Neighbours 11.
The eleventh botanical is not something that can be picked, weighed or added to the still—it is music.
During distillation, the spirit is created to the sound of music, with the vibrations travelling through the copper condenser and becoming part of Ginbow's unique approach.
They affectionately refer to music as their "11th botanical", a playful nod to the belief that every element of the process contributes something special to the finished spirit.
It is a wonderfully imaginative concept that turns distillation into a multi-sensory experience, where flavour, sound and craftsmanship all come together.
Whether science, symbolism or simply a celebration of creativity, it perfectly captures the personality behind this innovative Portuguese gin.
Even the bottle tells the story. Every one is individually hand-numbered and signed by the master distiller, while the saxophone-playing meerkat on the label celebrates the idea that good spirits, good music and good company belong together.
Neighbours 11 is one of a trio of gins produced by Ginbow, each with its own distinctive personality. Their innovation has certainly attracted attention, with their Caviar Gin earning major international awards and further establishing the distillery as one of Portugal's rising stars.
Their philosophy is wonderfully simple: slow down, enjoy the moment and share it with friends. It feels particularly appropriate in the Alentejo, a region celebrated for its relaxed pace of life and long Atlantic sunsets.
Staying true to Portugal, I've reached for another local classic.
Rather than vermouth, I've used a rich ruby Port to create a Portuguese-inspired Negroni. The ripe fruit of the Port works beautifully with the warming spices of the gin, producing a cocktail that's both familiar and surprisingly different.
Some distillers measure botanicals by weight. Others add an eleventh ingredient you can only hear.
Portuguese Negroni
- 30ml Neighbours 11 Gin
- 30ml Ruby Port
- 30ml Campari
Stir over ice until well chilled and garnish with orange peel.
Sometimes all it takes is one simple twist to give a classic cocktail an entirely new personality.
"Show me a bottle and I’ll tell you a story."