FIRST JOURNEYS - EUROPEAN EXPEDITION- PIN 37 OF 40
OPYOS GIN - Luxembourg
A ROAD TRIP WHERE EVERY STOP HAS A STORY
Originally written during lockdown, this virtual journey was my way of escaping the four walls and travelling through Europe one gin at a time. Although nothing could replace actually wandering through cobbled streets, discovering hidden villages and tasting local spirits where they were made, it did open my eyes to some fascinating places I may otherwise have overlooked.
If you are looking for a fairytale destination, Luxembourg could certainly fit the bill. This tiny Grand Duchy may be known as one of the world’s major financial centres, but beyond the glass buildings are medieval castles, picturesque villages, forests, valleys and historic orchards.
For gin lovers, Luxembourg has a surprisingly vibrant craft scene, with a number of local producers creating spirits inspired by the country’s traditions and landscape.
One that immediately caught my attention was Opyos, a brand built around the idea of celebrating Luxembourg’s heritage through modern distilling.
Opyos began in 2016 when three friends — Jim Wagener, Fränk Wagner and Michel Schammel — started experimenting with the idea of creating a spirit that represented their home country.
Their inspiration came from Luxembourg’s traditional fruit spirits and the desire to revive the connection between local orchards, forgotten fruit varieties and modern craftsmanship.
Their first gin was released in 2017.
Originally called Opus, from the Latin word meaning “work” and often used to describe a creative piece or composition, the name reflected the dedication and care that went into creating their spirits.
However, they later discovered that Opus was already protected internationally, so the name was subtly changed to Opyos. The intricate label design remained, including the infinity symbol, which represents both the endless journey of the distiller and the balance achieved between botanicals.
Based in the Ernz Blanche valley in eastern Luxembourg, an area known for its historic orchards and old fruit varieties, Opyos remains closely connected to its surroundings. The team uses locally sourced ingredients where possible, including fruits and botanicals such as blackberry, rosehip, elderberry, sloe and elderflower, alongside honey and other blossoms.
This is an earthy, beautifully balanced gin. The honey brings gentle sweetness, while the fruit and floral notes give it a feeling of walking through a Luxembourg woodland — fresh, green and slightly wild. It is incredibly smooth when sipped neat, with layers of flavour rather than simply a strong juniper hit.
The Navy Strength expression brings extra intensity, with more pronounced juniper and a little more bite, while the Luxembourg Dry Gin is softer and more delicate, allowing the local ingredients to shine. Their sloe gin is also worth mentioning — rich with fruit but not overly sweet or syrupy, making it a very easy sipper.
“A fairytale country, ancient orchards and a gin that captures Luxembourg in a bottle.”
I’ve kept the serve simple:
Opyos Gin & Tonic
Opyos Luxembourg Dry Gin
Elderflower tonic
Blackberries and mint garnish
A simple serve, but one that lets the character of the gin come through — a taste of Luxembourg’s orchards and countryside in a glass.
"Show me a bottle and I’ll tell you a story."