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The Miner's Gin 1517

Miner's Gin 1517 | Gin launch in the Berchtesgaden salt mine – To undertake a 300-kilometer drive across Bavaria for the launch of a gin, the current trendiest drink – it has to be a really good gin, or rather, it should score points with an equally interesting story in addition to its distinctive taste. The story of the new Miner's Gin 1517 from the traditional Grassl distillery is indeed exciting, and so I want to share it with you. Recently, the Bavarian town of Berchtesgaden has a new specialty to offer in liquid form: Miner's Gin 1517. The new Miner's Gin 1517 from the Grassl distillery is a rare find, which – as a truly unique feature – not only matures in stoneware casks deep beneath the Berchtesgaden Alps in the Berchtesgaden salt mine, but is also distilled by hand beforehand in the copper stills of Bavaria's oldest mountain distillery. During a guided tour of the Berchtesgaden salt mine, an associated gin presentation and subsequent tasting, I got to know Miner's Gin 1517 – both neat and as a mixed drink.

Miner's Gin 1571 – a new gin is born

Owners Florian and Martin Beierl of the traditional Grassl distillery describe it this way: "We at the Grassl gentian distillery don't just sell high-proof delicacies, we sell stories." And so, after much tinkering and weeks of detailed fine-tuning, a very special gin was created at the distillery. They sampled various gins and tweaked ever finer details to find the perfect flavor nuances for their own Miner's Gin. It wasn't easy until the gin finally achieved its aroma profile, which, while quite classic, is further enhanced with a few high-altitude herbs.

In the foreground the barrels, in the background the finished gin.

…and how exactly does that work?

The gin is distilled on the mountain, in Germany's oldest mountain distillery, within historic stills in Priesberg and Rossfeld. To ensure everything is done according to the old juniper distilling laws of 1692, Miner's Gin is produced in antique copper stills using pure mountain spring water and fired over wood. It also contains nuances of hand-harvested pan salt from the Alpine salt deposits. However, Miner's Gin 1517 acquires its truly unique character through maturation within the mountain, inside Germany's oldest active salt mine. There, it matures in traditional stoneware casks deep within the mine's tunnels. Specifically, this means that the unique gin, made from juniper and 21 botanicals, is distilled by hand in heavy copper stills and then matures to its uniquely smooth and enjoyable character. The gin distillate is stored for approximately three months at a constant temperature of 12 degrees Celsius and consistent humidity, 1,000 meters deep inside the mountain – a deliberately short storage period to preserve the floral notes. The clay barrels, roughly 100 to 120 years old, in which Miner's Gin 1517 is aged, are never completely filled. This leaves some headspace, allowing the oxygen to oxidize the alcohol and soften its harshness. Fascinating, isn't it? The resulting interplay of aromas in Miner's Gin 1517 is also influenced by the prevailing salty air found in the over 250-million-year-old salt dome.

A small amount of gin is being taken from the clay barrel. Customs officials are watching.

Gin can be made from any type of neutral alcohol. It doesn't matter whether the base alcohol is made from apples, barley, potatoes, grapes, or wheat. It's the botanicals (the so-called "botanicals") that give gin its characteristic flavor and individual character. Miner's Gin uses berries, barks, seeds, fruits, fruit peels, spices (coriander, cubeb pepper), herbs (ginger root, gentian root, licorice root), citrus fruits, and roots, some of which are also believed to have medicinal properties. Juniper berries are present in every gin and also form the basis of the new Miner's Gin 1517 – which, incidentally, is a dry gin.

If you're wondering how the gin gets into the mountain, I wanted to know that too! They use the mine train, and the distillery's distillers go down into the tunnel with the early shift of miners at 6 a.m. – sometimes with, sometimes without customs. Quite an effort for a bottle of gin. Keep that in mind when you hold it in your hands and taste it.

There are three different bottle sizes.

And this is what Miner's Gin 1517 tastes like.

Now, let's get our glasses ready. Naturally, we'll start with a neat tasting. The gin has a delicate, classic flavor – with distinct lemony notes. Connoisseurs will detect a subtle hint of coriander in the finish, along with a very light, but by no means overpowering, saltiness. Thanks to the delicate mountain plants, blossoms, and roots it contains, Miner's Gin 1517 boasts a pleasant bouquet and immediately reveals its unique and unmistakable flavor profile. A pronounced juniper note, combined with a harmonious smoothness – a result of the constant temperature (12 degrees Celsius) within the salt mine – is what makes this gin so special. Oh, and if you're wondering "why all this?" and "How did it get its name?" – it's quite simple! The gin is named after the Berchtesgaden salt mine, which is celebrating its 500th anniversary this year. 2017 – 500 years since 1517… ta-da!… the name of the gin was born. 🙂

Try the gin yourself

Miner's Gin 1517 is available in 0.5-liter, 0.35-liter, and 0.05-liter bottles (…perfect for your handbag ;-)). Want to try it too? If you're holding the bottle and not quite sure what to do with it, here's my tip: For the perfect 1517 Miner's Gin and Tonic, put three to four blackberries in a tumbler and muddle them lightly. Then add 4 cl of Miner's Gin and ice cubes. Top it off with your favorite classic tonic water, garnish with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint. Cheers!

+++ This article was created in cooperation with the Grassl gentian distillery and the Berchtesgaden salt mine. Thank you! +++

Contact for inquiries

Miner's Gin 1517 | Berchtesgaden Salt Mine
Website Berchtesgaden Salt Mine
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