Principe de Los Apostoles Mate Gin 750ML

Príncipe de los Apóstoles Mate Gin (750ML)

Príncipe de los Apóstoles is a highly artisanal, category-defying spirit that stands as one of the most innovative and culturally authentic entries in the contemporary global gin boom. Created in the sub-tropical highlands of Misiones by the iconic avant-garde Argentinian mixologist Tato Giovannoni (founder of the world-renowned bar Florería Atlántico in Buenos Aires), this spirit proudly serves as the definitive First Premium Gin of South America.

What elevates Apóstoles into a radical, conversation-starting departure from traditional London Drows or European botanicals is its complete rejection of the standard, juniper-heavy pine blueprint. While a legal baseline of juniper is included, Giovannoni designed the gin to be an liquid homage to Argentina's most sacred social ritual: the drinking of Yerba Mate. The botanicals are individually macerated in small batches inside copper pot stills, spearheaded by a uniquely South American agricultural core: Yerba Mate leaves, fresh pink grapefruit peel, peppermint (menta piperina), and eucalyptus leaves. The resulting distillate is a highly refreshing, beautifully texturing, and deeply herbaceous spirit dialed in at a balanced 40.5% ABV (81 Proof).

Technical Product Specs

• Size: 750ML Distinctive Heavy-Glass Format (Featuring a vintage botanical sketch label mapping out its South American ingredients)

• ABV/Proof: 40.5% ABV (81 Proof)

• Spirit Type: New Western / Contemporary Botanical Gin

• The Botanical Matrix: Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis), pink grapefruit peel, peppermint, eucalyptus, coriander, and a heavily restrained back-anchor of juniper berries.

• Distillation Protocol: Small-batch, individual maceration and distillation inside traditional copper pot stills.

• Origin: Distilled and Produced in Argentina (Sol de los Andes, Mendoza / Misiones).

Tasting Notes: Flavor and Aroma Profile

Because the botanical blueprint swaps heavy pine-juniper for leafy mate and refreshing eucalyptus, the liquid presents an extraordinarily bright, herbal-green profile that behaves completely differently on the tongue than traditional gins.

• Aroma (Nose): Strikingly fragrant, clean, and incredibly uplifting. The bouquet opens with an upfront wave of earthy, savory dried green tea leaves (Yerba Mate), beautifully layered over secondary top notes of cooling menthol eucalyptus, sharp peppermint, and a bright splash of zesty pink grapefruit citrus.

• Palate (Taste): Medium-bodied, satiny, and texturally complex. The entry treats the tongue to a wave of crisp citrus oil and sweet peppermint cream. Across the mid-palate, the spirit turns deeply savory—unrolling complex, earthy layers of malty green tea bitterness, wet herbal forest floor, and a light touch of warm coriander spice.

• Finish: Exceptionally clean, refreshing, and extra-dry. The savory herbal elements give way to a trailing signature of cooling menthol freshness, lingering grapefruit rind bitterness, and a crisp, peppery finish that completely cleanses the palate.

High-Performance Mixology: Beyond the Tonic

While it makes a beautifully unique, herbaceous Gin & Tonic, Tato Giovannoni explicitly engineered Apóstoles to dominate contemporary cocktail design, acting as an elite teammate for fresh citrus, herbal modifiers, and tonic water.

• The El Terrerito Highball (The Ultimate G&T): Fill a tall highball glass to the absolute brim with hard ice blocks. Combine 2 oz Príncipe de los Apóstoles Gin and 4 oz of premium tonic water. Instead of a traditional lime wheel, garnish exclusively with a fresh sprig of eucalyptus or mint, and a long peel of pink grapefruit. The grapefruit oils instantly unlock the gin's hidden citrus core.

• The New Era Clericó: A stunning, batchable South American wine-punch. In a large pitcher filled with ice, combine 6 oz Apóstoles Gin, one bottle of crisp Torrontés or Sauvignon Blanc white wine, 2 oz simple syrup, and a splash of club soda. Toss in chopped green apples and grapefruit slices. The mate and mint notes fuse spectacularly with the floral white wine.

• The Misiones Negroni: Combine 1.5 oz Apóstoles Gin, 1 oz Campari, and 1 oz Sweet Vermouth over ice. The earthy, savory bitterness of the Yerba Mate pairs flawlessly with the bitter orange profile of the Campari.

Food Pairings

Apóstoles’ brilliant calibration of savory green tea leaves, zesty grapefruit acidity, and a cooling menthol finish allows it to function as a magnificent pairing tool for flame-charred meats and fresh seafoods.

• Authentic Argentinian Asado: An absolute textbook home run next to flame-grilled skirt steak, smoky choripán, or grilled lamb sweetbreads served with fresh chimichurri. The gin's built-in mint, eucalyptus, and savory mate leaves cut through rich, smoky animal fats flawlessly.

• Zesty & Fresh Ceviches: Pair a chilled highball next to white fish ceviche marinated in lime juice, red onion, and fresh cilantro. The sharp citrus of the food mirrors the pink grapefruit in the gin, while the mate balances the acid.

• Herbal Artisanal Goat Cheeses: Match a pour alongside a casual layout highlighting blocks of tangy chèvre (goat cheese) rolled in herbs, feta cheese, or sharp white Cheddar, where the gin's clean finish acts as a beautiful palate cleanser.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does this gin contain caffeine from the Yerba Mate?

No. While raw Yerba Mate leaves are naturally packed with a high concentration of caffeine, the chemical caffeine molecule does not carry over during the distillation process. Because caffeine is a heavy crystalline compound, it is left behind at the bottom of the copper pot still during boiling, meaning the finished liquid is 100% caffeine-free while perfectly retaining the mate's natural aromatic oils, flavors, and savory green-tea bitterness.

Is this a traditional London Dry Gin?

No, it belongs firmly to the New Western / Contemporary Gin family tree. A traditional London Dry Gin is legally required to be heavily dominated by the piney, resinous, and medicinal flavor of juniper berries. Príncipe de los Apóstoles purposely pushes juniper into a subtle background supporting role, allowing the indigenous South American notes of leafy mate, cooling peppermint, and eucalyptus to occupy the absolute spotlight.

How should I store this bottle?

Thanks to its robust 40.5% ABV framing, Apóstoles Gin is completely shelf-stable at room temperature once opened. It will never spoil, drop out of flavor equilibrium, or turn sour. You do not need to refrigerate it. Simply store the bottle upright on your home bar cart or inside a liquor cabinet away from direct sunlight to preserve its delicate botanical oils, and ensure the cap is twisted on tightly after use to prevent evaporation.