Turicum Dry Gin

About this bottle

In 2013, visits to English distilleries inspired Philip Angst, Merlin Kofler, Oscar Martin and Oliver Honegger to join forces and create a spirit for their home market, using local ingredients and capturing the feel of Zurich. After almost two years of development, their first gin appeared.

The botanicals

Some of the botanicals even come from Zurich, including some from their own gardens.

Tasting

On the nose

The aroma is stunning: fresh, yet full-bodied. Juniper and fruit, almost pear-like at times. Alpine herbs come into play, less strongly than in Kapriol Dry Gin, but noticeably. Coriander is there too.

Taste

You can taste what the nose promised. Coriander and juniper are there, accompanied by freshness and some sweetness. A hint of bitterness follows, quickly giving way to a sharper kick at the end.

Finish

A gentle aftertaste of juniper and cardamom remains. Overall, though, it's relatively short, perhaps medium-length, not too sweet and more on the lighter, slightly earthy side.

With ice

Ice brings the orange peel forward a little. It's not unusual for ice to reveal different things. It removes the heat completely, but the bitterness remains, even a little more than without ice. It isn't unpleasant bitterness; it's an intriguing part of the whole.

Final thoughts

Turicum Dry Gin gets a thumbs-up from me. A little different from a very classic gin, with a full body and a short finish and aftertaste. A lovely addition to the home bar if you can get hold of this Swiss gin.

Turicum Gin from Switzerland — Zurich, to be precise — reminds me of a longer spell I spent in Switzerland that now feels an age ago. The design and flavour bring back thoughts of the city. Reason enough to look at the gin and taste it.