Helyszín címkék:
Flavours and aromas from the domestic gin market
- Szabó Vivien
The Hungarian originality of gin
Gin is a spirit whose main flavour is given by the juniper-berry, and the selection of raw materials and the distillation process significantly determine its character and uniqueness. But what makes Hungarian gin so original? The answer lies in domestic raw materials. Linked to the traditions of pálinka, Hungarian gins are often made in pálinka distilleries, which gives them a unique character.
"Since our start in 2019, a lot of manufactory-style, quality craft gins have appeared in Hungary, most of which are made in pálinka distilleries, and I think that this shows the uniqueness of Hungarian gin, that is, our gin culture is built on the tradition of pálinka. What is very gratifying is that several Hungarian gins have successfully competed in international competitions, so it is clear that skills are starting to develop in our country as well, of which, of course, the consumer is the main beneficiary,"
-says Bálint about the Hungarian gin culture.
Quality lies in harmony
The quality and selection of the raw materials play an important role in the quality of the finished gin. The richness of Hungarian farmland and Hungarian spices allows Hungarian gin makers to create a special taste.
“Hungary is basically considered a juniper superpower, just think of the important role juniper pálinka played in the region for many centuries. In addition, Hungarian gastronomy knows and uses a lot of other exciting spices and herbs, for example we started experimenting with poppy, and it turned out that it harmonizes very well with the classic gin spices (juniper, coriander seed), but the distillate lends a real uniqueness because of which we can say that yes, this gin is made in the Carpathian Basin.”
Opera Gin, as the first domestic gin manufacturer, is a true pioneer of the domestic gin culture. During the distillation of their London Dry type gin, no aroma is added, so the taste of fruits and spices only enters the gin during the distillation and fermentation process. For the drink made from pure corn spirit, 11 kinds of spices are used, such as angelica, cinnamon, cloves and coriander, and, as Bálint mentioned, the poppy, which is considered a curiosity, is also used to highlight the Hungarian flavour.
Thanks to the high-quality ingredients and extensive experience, Agárdi gin also occupies a prominent place in the domestic gin palette. The Agárd Pálinka Distillery is not only famous for its pálinkas, but also for its great gins, which can be tasted in the framework of a guided tasting on the spot. The Agárd Hungarian Dry Gin is made in Agárd, next to the Lake Velence, where the pálinka distillery has been successfully working for more than 15 years.
In terms of quality, not only the quality of the raw materials, but also the knowledge of the master distiller is of great importance. Harmony and balance are most important in quality gins, where taste, aroma and alcohol are in harmony with each other. This is also shown by the Seven Hills Tokaj gin, an excellent example of domestic craft gin, which is produced in small quantities and of premium quality. The gin contains 21 types of ingredients, including citrus and Tokaji Aszú, as well as various spices and herbs. In 2021, it won the World's Best Contemporary Gin award at the World Gin Awards, and that speaks for itself. If you want to sip the award-winning drink personally, you can do so at the Seven Hills Distillery in Bodrogkisfalud during the distillery tours.
The future of gin in Hungary
The future of the Hungarian gin market is full of exciting opportunities and potential for Hungarian gin makers to utilize their creativity and innovative spirit.
“If we look at foreign trends, the Hungarian gin market has many opportunities, because gin in itself is not a closed beverage category, like whiskey, for example. There are many different types of gin, I am thinking here of barrel-aged gin, the so-called Old Tom Gin, flavoured gin, etc., so I think that sooner or later these special categories will appear in our country as well. Shortly after we started, we created The Winery Collection, which is a barrel-aged gin series, every year we team up with a different winemaker and age the gin in the barrel of an emblematic wine.”
Hungarian gin has unique opportunities to convey the rich gastronomic heritage and culture of the Carpathian Basin. Through the use of domestic ingredients and flavours, as well as the emphasis on local production techniques, Hungarian gin can be not just a drink among others, but a product that is a worthy representative of our country's rich gastronomic traditions.
“It would be important for the gins to reflect the origin of the drink more strongly, because the world market is very overstocked with better and better gins, so we need to find our unique style, with which we can also colour the palette.”
Let's discover Hungary's gin culture and taste the most unique domestic gins, because you do not have to go far for an unforgettable gastronomic experience!
