Summer is without a doubt the season for gin. As the city’s juniper bushes – whose berries are used to flavour the liquor – ripen through the summer, there’s nothing more refreshing than a gin smash, a G&T or a Tom Collins on a hot day. These days, Berlin’s manufacturers have been getting particularly gin-spired; the amount of craft distilleries and local labels has exploded over the past few years.
In fact, it almost feels as if every neighbourhood now has a micro-distillery, owned by a man with a quaffed 1920s hairdo and an exuberant, overly-styled beard. And as the gin market in Berlin has grown, so has the quality and diversity of products. Beyond the traditional, you can now get saffron-flavoured gin, pink tea and lots of barrel-aged varieties. To celebrate the new gin-eration, check out our gin-ius picks of the best Berlin versions.
The GIN-FAMOUS
Berliner Brandstifter has been around for over three decades. With minimal branding and white-label bottles, Brandstifter uses only hand-picked flowers and berries from Berlin, and each numbered bottle gives gin lovers a sense of the care and time that goes into these pure, refined gins. Along with their classic variety, Brandstifter has a great limited range, including a red wine barrel-aged line and a special artistic edition with notes of rose and blackberry, made in partnership with Berghain’s very own bouncer-in-residence Sven Marquardt.
THE GIN-SIDERS
Looking to emulate the globally-recognised Hendricks, Spree Gin also set out to make a great cucumber-infused spirit. But the family-owned company decided to do things the homegrown way, using locally-sourced, organic Spreewald Gurken. With no intention of sticking to convention, the gin manufacturers have also invested in a wide variety of exotic flavours as well, including rhubarb, melon and blood orange cinnamon, along with a zero-alcohol alternative, too.
THE GIN-VINCIBLE
Like the name suggests, Elixier gin really is a potent potion. Crafted by local punks with a 1920s cabaret-like branding, the homemade gin is made with classic Berlin woodruff (the same stuff that’s often added to a Berliner Weisse to make it bright green), along with juniper and other local berries. Elixier has more of a tonic feel to it, thanks to its 40% strength and rich herbal taste – which also means that it can be drunk neat.
THE GIN-STANT HIT
The light and refreshing complexion of gin lends itself to infusion, which creates something new and effervescent. Local distillery Gentle Gin has taken this superpower and run with it, holding back on the juniper and going crazy with more unconventional flavours such as saffron, Bunga Telang tea, Chinese white tea, rose petals and lavender. With limited availability of their concoctions, Gentle Gin is probably one of the city’s most unique gin brands.
THE SLOW GIN
Considered to be the oldest spirit brand in Berlin, Mampe has been around for almost 200 years. Based in Bergmannkiez in a luxurious factory and event space, Mampe offers a wide range of varieties, including the Ku’Damm 15 – a style that was available to punters back in the 1920s. With customisable flavours, a barrel-aged range and a “half-and-half” liquor that’s both sweet and bitter, Mampe is a classic brand with a history that dates back to 1831.
