FIRST JOURNEYS - EUROPEAN EXPEDITION- PIN 12 OF 40

GIN EVA - Balearic Islands, Mallorca/Majorca


Gin Eva (Casa Eva)

A ROAD TRIP WHERE EVERY STOP HAS A STORY

I’ve left mainland Spain behind and, in true virtual road trip style, I’ve caught a car ferry across to Mallorca! (Humour me — every European expedition needs a little imagination when the roads run out!)


Mallorca is one of the Mediterranean’s most famous destinations, but beyond the beaches and busy resorts lies an island rich in agriculture, tradition and natural beauty.


Olive groves, vineyards, citrus orchards, mountains and coastal landscapes all contribute to a very distinctive sense of place — and that is exactly what today’s gin aims to capture.


Back in 2012, husband and wife team Stefan and Eva Winterling decided to combine their winemaking experience with a passion for distilling and created their own small distillery in Llucmajor, just outside Palma. Starting with a 150-litre copper pot still, they set out to create spirits that reflected the character of Mallorca.



At the heart of Gin Eva is the island itself. They use locally sourced wild juniper, including Phoenician juniper, which grows naturally in the coastal landscape. Growing amongst the dunes near Es Trenc, one of Mallorca’s most celebrated beaches, these berries are influenced by their surroundings, developing a distinctive character with hints of Mediterranean salinity. The juniper is carefully steeped before distillation, allowing the oils and aromas to be gently extracted.

Every batch is produced in very small quantities, with around 70 bottles created at a time, allowing Stefan to carefully adapt the process depending on the botanicals and the season.


Alongside their Signature Dry Gin, the range includes Olive Extra Dry Gin and Bergamot Dry Gin, but my favourite has to be their limited edition Green Spice Dry Gin.

Created in collaboration with Michelin-starred German chef Ingo Holland, this was a true exploration of Mallorca’s green flavours. Stefan experimented with different botanicals and even considered colouring the gin green, trying to capture that fresh, vibrant aroma of an unripe fruit — surprising, intense and full of character.


The result is a beautifully unusual gin featuring green-harvested juniper, seaweed, bay leaves, green pepper, fig leaves, orange leaves and green oranges.


It has everything I love in a gin: freshness, complexity and a real connection to the landscape. It feels like Mallorca in a glass.



My serve had to celebrate one of those Mediterranean flavours — fig leaves — so I’ve created a Fig Leaf Smash Sour, with a splash of Fino Sherry adding a little extra Spanish character.


An island captured in a glass — wild juniper, Mediterranean botanicals and a gin that tastes of Mallorca’s coast and countryside.




Fig Leaf Smash Sour

  • 50ml Gin Eva Green Spice Dry Gin
  • 25ml Fino Sherry
  • Fresh fig leaves
  • Lemon juice
  • Sugar syrup
  • Egg white or foamer
  • Ice

A little taste of Mallorcan sunshine, captured in a glass.









"Show me a bottle and I’ll tell you a story."