Príncipe de los Apóstoles Gin

Príncipe de los Apóstoles Gin opens with a clear proposition: reinvent gin through South American botanicals and sustainable craft distillation. Príncipe de los Apóstoles Gin was conceived by Renato “Tato” Giovannoni with formulation input from Hilbing Franke and is produced in Mendoza, Argentina, using 200-liter copper pot stills and a base of triple-distilled cereal alcohol. Early moments on the palate recall steeped yerba mate and bright pink grapefruit; later notes reveal eucalyptus, peperina and a precise juniper spine. For travelers searching for an Argentina distillery that foregrounds terroir in spirits, the production story and tasting profile are immediate and distinct. While this is a production-forward spirit house rather than a large visitor complex, the narrative of place and process reads like an invitation to explore New World gin.

The founders’ background in bartending and international cocktail culture informs every decision at Príncipe de los Apóstoles Gin. Tato Giovannoni, an internationally recognized Argentine bartender, initiated the project after studying London distillation practices in 2010; he collaborated with distillation partner Hilbing Franke to translate regional botanicals into a balanced spirit. The distillery’s philosophy centers on botanical authenticity: each botanical is macerated individually, then distilled in small batches to preserve volatile aromatics. The operation is notable for its environmental commitment — distillation runs on 100% solar energy — and for positioning the brand as the first premium gin from Latin America to insist on a uniquely South American botanical identity. Although formal competition medals are not listed, industry press and importers in Europe have highlighted the originality of the botanical lineup and the artisanal production methods.

The product journey at Príncipe de los Apóstoles Gin is specific and tactile. The core expression, Príncipe de los Apóstoles Mate Gin (40.5% ABV), layers dried yerba mate leaves with coriander, juniper, pink grapefruit peel, eucalyptus and peperina; tasting notes run from toasted mate and green-herbal tea to citrus peel and light resinous juniper. The Mate Gin Rosa Mosqueta (35% ABV) interlaces rosehip and floral elements with the house mate and eucalyptus for a softer, aromatic serve ideal in lighter cocktails. Fuerza Gaucha (53% ABV) is an assertive, higher-proof expression emphasizing resinous juniper, mate, eucalyptus and a hint of roasted cocoa and coffee — a bottle designed for stirred, spirit-forward cocktails or measured tonic serves. All expressions begin with individual botanical maceration in triple-distilled cereal spirit, then undergo careful copper-pot distillation; finished spirits are proofed and bottled in small batches, with limited single-batch runs appearing intermittently. Packaging and allocation practices favor select importers in Europe, where the Mate Gin retail price approximates €29.95 per 700ml bottle.

Visitors seeking an on-site immersion should note that Príncipe de los Apóstoles Gin operates primarily as a production distillery rather than a public visitor center. There is no publicly listed tasting room or scheduled tour program in the sources; the distillery’s footprint in Mendoza is focused on craft production and distribution. That said, the still house and solar arrays, as described by the team, provide a compelling backdrop for private industry visits when arranged through trade contacts or importers. The atmosphere around the distillery is industrial-craft: copper pot stills, small batch tanks and scent trails of macerated botanicals rather than curated hospitality spaces. For cocktail enthusiasts and spirits professionals, the opportunity is to study technique and provenance rather than leisure tasting-room amenities.

Plan visits during Argentina’s temperate months (October–April) when logistics and freight schedules favor importers and trade tastings; because public tour information and tasting fees are not published, travelers should reserve through specialist importers or hospitality contacts. Private or industry visits likely require advance notice and coordination with the production team or distributor. For purchase, look to specialty retailers and European import listings that currently carry the Mate Gin and select expressions.

Príncipe de los Apóstoles Gin translates cultural history — Jesuit-era yerba mate cultivation in Misiones — into contemporary spirits craft in Mendoza. Whether you’re a collector seeking region-specific expressions or a bartender sourcing a uniquely Argentine botanical gin, Príncipe de los Apóstoles Gin offers a distinct, sustainably powered spirit that rewards close tasting and cocktail experimentation. Contact importers or the brand’s listed distributors to inquire about allocations, private tastings, or trade visits to experience Argentina’s botanical reinterpretation of gin.