Some gins announce themselves with a name that reads like a recipe, and Wacholderbar Veltliner Grapes & Saffron Gin is precisely that kind of spirit — one that wears its ambitions openly. The name itself is a journey: Wacholderbar, from the German for juniper, paired with Veltliner grapes — the celebrated white grape of Austria's Wachau Valley — and saffron, that ancient, sun-dried thread of colour and warmth. Even before the first pour, there is a sense of place and intention here.
A London Dry With Continental Flair
Classified as a London Dry at 44.7% ABV, this gin must meet that style's exacting standards — no artificial flavourings, no post-distillation additions beyond water. That the distillers chose to work within these constraints while incorporating such distinctive botanicals speaks to genuine craft. The Veltliner grape influence suggests a certain vinous softness beneath the juniper architecture, while saffron — used sparingly by only the most considered distillers — hints at an earthy, honeyed warmth that would thread through the spirit like late afternoon light across a vineyard.
This is a gin that sits at the crossroads of tradition and terroir. The London Dry classification anchors it, but the botanical choices pull it toward something more expressive, more rooted in a specific landscape. At its price point of around £41, it positions itself as a considered purchase — a bottle for the shelf you reach for when the evening calls for something with story.
I score this 7.8 out of 10. It is a gin that promises much in its composition and delivers a London Dry framework with genuine personality.
Best Served
On a cool evening, with a restrained tonic, a single thread of saffron dropped into the glass, and perhaps a thin slice of white peach — something to echo the grape's quiet sweetness as the light fades.
