First Petriot distillery gin already earns a gold award

“It’s a very beautiful and harmonious London dry Slovenian gin. It is made from quality base spirit. It is with balanced aromas lead by juniper, and a pleasant aftertaste.” This was the unanimous opinion of eight Slovenian spirits and catering experts at the Gin&Brin festival. Petriot’s Green George earned gin a gold award in the most prestigious gin category, the London dry. Its main characteristic is that only natural aromatic ingredients are used in the process. Only pure water is added after distillation. This Slovenian gin contains ingredients typical for White Carniola. It pays homage to the heritage and tradition of the region.

“We are glad spirits experts have also confirmed that what Green George promises on the nose. It delivers on the palate as well,” says Jurij Petruna, the founder of the Petriot microdistillery. The youngest distillery with a gold award at the festival. Nevertheless, the harmony of smell and taste cannot be achieved overnight. Developing the taste of slovenian gin and finding the right balance of natural and organic botanicals can take several months, says Petruna. “When the distillation is over, the gin must rest for a few weeks. So that water, alcohol and essential oils can combine. Then you reduce the ingredient that is too strong on the taste or add the one which lacks intensity.” Explains the gold-awarded distiller. He also emphasizing that technical equipment is also very important for obtaining a quality spirit.

To produce authentic Slovenian gin, the Petriot micro distillery uses the most technologically advanced automated stills. Correct balance of natural ingredients is not the only condition. The high quality of their gin is also a result of using the best equipment, reveals the founder of the distillery. That is why he is already planning to increase production capacity and simultaneously developing a new flavour of gin. Also with equally meticulously chosen ingredients that will once again bring a unique taste. And and pay homage to another Slovenian region. Which one, remains a secret. However the awarded distiller promises that the mysterious ingredient will certainly be a pleasant surprise for gin lovers.

The main goal is to produce authentic Slovenian gin with unique flavours. Through this foreigners could also experience the unique Slovenian regions. Participation at the Gin&Brin festival was therefore a perfect opportunity for them to receive mass feedback from both – the visitors and the experts. Petruna is pleased that the festival grows each year on a professional level as well. They are offering a rich programme alongside distillate tasting. Also offering visitors an opportunity to learn about the history and tradition of gin. The distillation process and ingredients as well. “Excellent planning, audience, good music and the ambience of Dutovlje make the Gin&Brin festival really special. That it can only be described with superlatives,” adds Jurij Petruna, a gin admirer and the founder of the Petriot microdistillery, about the experience of participating in the event this time as a distiller.

This year, the Gin&Brin festival hosted 17 gin and juniper spirit distillers. Other distillers, who have yet to launch their own brand, were also allowed to participate in the judging of six categories of spirits, said Jure Krstan, the organizer of the judging part of the festival. He added that in addition to the smell and taste, the members of the judging committee also paid attention to the visual impression. Each judge also provided an opinion on the entire experience of tasting the spirits. “When evaluating the Green George gin, the judges were very consistent,” added Krstan about the winner in the most demanding category.