Elena Gin
Elena Gin is a 42% ABV, 750mL dry gin from Elena Spirits in Castiglione Falletto, in Italy's Langhe hills — a "London Dry in Langa style" made by Vietti winery's Elena Penna Currado Vietti and Luca Currado Vietti, distilled in two 18th-century wood-fired copper pot stills. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
Elena is what happens when Barolo winemakers make gin. The base is pure wheat spirit, redistilled one shot at a time in copper stills fired by wood — a method older than the distillery building, which dates to the 1800s. Skin botanicals like juniper and cassia bark are macerated and distilled; delicate herbs are infused and percolated; the two distillates are blended and cold-filtered by hand through paper. No synthetic flavorings, no essential oils, no colorants. The first production run was just 2,640 bottles.
Tasting profile: a pale yellow hue from the herbs and paper filtration; clean, fresh juniper and citrus over myrtle and Alpine floral meadows with a balsamic finish; an opulent, oily palate where juniper bursts through spice and herbs into a dry, long close. Botanicals run from Langhe thyme, elderflower, almonds and coriander to Alpine juniper, angelica, wild mint and chamomile, plus Ligurian lime and bitter orange peel. Browse the Elena Spirits brand collection, more gin, and the full spirits collection at Del Mesa Liquor.
Serving note: serve at 8–10°C in a gin and tonic with a citrus twist — or neat, to taste the wood-fire still work.
What style is Elena Gin? A London Dry made "in Langa style" — dry, juniper-led, with Langhe and Alpine botanicals and no post-distillation flavoring or color.
How is it distilled? In two 18th-century wood-fired copper pot stills, using the one-shot method — maceration for skin botanicals, infusion and percolation for herbs, blended and paper-filtered by hand.
Who makes Elena Gin? Elena Penna Currado Vietti and Luca Currado Vietti of the Vietti winery in Castiglione Falletto, Piedmont.
What is the ABV? 42% ABV, 750mL.