FIRST JOURNEYS - EUROPEAN EXPEDITION- PIN 11 OF 40
GIN MARE - Vilanova i la Geltrú, Catalonia, Spain
A ROAD TRIP WHERE EVERY STOP HAS A STORY
I don’t think this gin needs much introduction at all. Gin Mare has been one of my firm favourites for years and is often my go-to choice when I’m out and about, so I couldn’t travel through Catalonia without making a stop at its Mediterranean home.
Today I’m heading to the fishing town of Vilanova i la Geltrú, on the Costa Daurada—the perfect location for a gin inspired by the sea, sunshine and relaxed pace of Mediterranean life.
With kilometres of golden beaches, calm waters and a strong connection to fishing and gastronomy, this is a place where the ingredients and traditions behind Gin Mare feel completely at home.
Vilanova i la Geltrú is a town shaped by the sea. Once an important fishing port and still home to a strong maritime tradition, it is known for its seafood, relaxed pace of life and annual festivals celebrating its heritage.
The surrounding coastline, vineyards and Mediterranean climate have created a landscape where local ingredients, traditions and flavours naturally come together — making it the perfect setting for a gin that celebrates the spirit of the region.
The gin is produced in an old chapel at the entrance to the distillery, where a custom-made still creates one of Spain’s most recognisable premium gins. The setting itself feels symbolic: a centuries-old building producing a spirit that celebrates the flavours, landscapes and cultures of the Mediterranean.
Gin Mare is essentially the Mediterranean captured in a bottle.
Its signature botanicals include Spanish Arbequina olives, rosemary, thyme and basil, alongside citrus, juniper, coriander and cardamom. Each botanical is treated individually before being brought together, allowing every ingredient to contribute its own character.
The Arbequina olive is what truly sets this gin apart. These small Catalan olives bring a subtle savoury quality and a hint of the sea, but even they are influenced by nature—changes in weather and growing conditions affect their acidity from year to year, meaning each batch carries its own small fingerprint of the Mediterranean landscape.
Gin Mare ticks all my boxes: juniper forward, herbaceous, savoury and incredibly versatile. It is a gin that works beautifully in a simple G&T, but also has enough personality to shine in cocktails. A Mediterranean tonic is the obvious pairing, but any crisp tonic will allow those herbal and olive notes to come through.
For a garnish, I’m keeping it simple—fresh rosemary and a few olives. Essentially a gin and a snack in one glass!
After exploring the dragons, legends and landscapes of Catalonia, this feels like the perfect final taste of the region: sunshine, herbs, olives and the unmistakable flavours of the Mediterranean.
A taste of the Mediterranean in a bottle, where Catalan olives, coastal herbs and centuries-old craftsmanship meet beside the sea.
ATLAS NOTE:
Destilerías MG also produce other interesting spirits, including Le Tribute Gin, with its beautifully designed bottle and matching tonic range. Their 1724 Tonic Water is another favourite pairing for Gin Mare, while their wider portfolio includes brands such as Gin MG and Masters.
"Show me a bottle and I’ll tell you a story."