Never Never Distilling Partners With Italian Mixologist on Cacao Butter-Washed Gin
Never Never Distilling’s Coffee & Cacao Gin is designed to make an ideal Negroni. (Photo: Never Never Distilling Co.)
Never Never Distilling Co. has joined forces with Italian mixology maestro Lorenzo Antinori to curate a gin inspired by the flavors of tiramisu. The resultant elixir, dubbed Coffee & Cacao Gin, offers a medley of roasted coffee bean, cacao nib, cacao butter and bergamot peel.
“When it comes to gin Never Never make some of the best in class,” Antinori informed Bars and Clubs. “I’ve developed a friendship with the team, because we all share similar visions; quality over quantity, creative but still approachable.”
Aligned with themes from Antinori’s Hong Kong-based establishment, Bar Leone, the collaborative spirit incorporates flavors found in traditional Italian food and drinks.
“We’re constantly inspired by the people we work alongside in our industry,” said Never Never Brand Director and Co-founder Sean Baxter, according to Bars and Clubs. “Lorenzo’s new venue in Hong Kong is all about Italian football, flavour and fun, so when he approached us about making a gin that aligned to his vision, we of course had to get involved.”
Additionally, the new tiramisu-esque spirit boasts a unique step in its production method: a fat wash with cocoa butter.
“Washing spirit with fats is definitely something very prevalent within the bar community,” Baxter told Bars and Clubs. “However, it’s still largely something that doesn’t occur as a production technique within gin.”
Coffee & Cacao Gin was also made with the Negroni in mind. A classic cocktail that originated in Italy, the Negroni is said to have been invented by Count Camillo Negroni in 1919 when he requested a bartender strengthen his favorite cocktail, the Americano, by replacing the soda water with gin. The bartender then added an orange garnish instead of the typical lemon twist, and thus, the Negroni was born.
“If we’re making a gin aligned to the very best that Italy has to offer it better make a damn good Negroni,” Baxter continued, per Bars and Clubs. “We wanted to build a gin whose purpose was to create delicious coffee and chocolate forward Negronis and work with the dark earthy flavours found in Italian sweet vermouth.”
Resting at 42% ABV, Never Never Coffee & Cacao Gin is available online for $79.
Read next:
Never Never Distilling Repurposes Discarded Oyster Shells in Sea-Inspired Gin
Here at Gin Raiders, we do more than write about current events in gin and booze. We are the only media property reviewing gins and aggregating the scores and reviews of other significant voices in the gin world in one place. If you’re interested in getting a shot of gin in your morning email, sign up for our Deal of the Day newsletter.
Follow The Daily Pour:
