Think of Tuscan dishes: they’re very simple,” Niccoló explains. “What makes the difference is the freshness of the ingredients.” This northern Italian region – home of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, to name just two of the many geniuses who were born and worked here – was the centre of Italian political and artistic life for hundreds of years. But its blessings go deeper, to the very ground, and show themselves in the richly flavoured herbs that blossom on the green hillsides. After launching their gin, Niccoló, Filippo, Enrico and Ugo converted the villa’s old lemon house – where valuable lemon trees used to be cultivated behind high walls – into a bespoke gin bar. Thursday, 16th March 2023, 8 PM onwards: Guest Shift by Mattia Lotti at The Library Bar at The Leela, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. As Filippo says, “The gin is a tribute to our homeland. Everything started there, and this gin brings us there.”

At the moment we are looking to build our brand in a healthy way creating a solid base, once this will be achieved we will work with my distributor on the next step planning a growth path to aim to be one of the leading European Gin in India.”

Sabatini Gin, in the green hills of Tuscany

After years of experimenting and refining the recipe, the Sabatini Family finally developed their signature gin, which perfectly captured the essence of Italy in a bottle. The gin was an instant hit among connoisseurs of spirits, and it wasn’t long before it caught the attention of consumers worldwide. It was the perfect project. Not only would creating a gin together ensure that Ugo, Enrico, Niccoló and Filippo stayed connected to one another, but it would give them the opportunity to introduce the world to the place that meant so much to them. As Ugo Sabatini, elder statesman of the family behind Sabatini Gin, explains: “This is the cradle of the Renaissance, which led to the production of an astounding quality of masterpieces in practically every artistic realm – and this is where the key botanicals of London Dry gin, like juniper, orris and coriander grow.” India is a complex market where the distribution of premium gin from small producers has just started. We need to work using pull strategies to build a strong base with meticulous work to be done in positioning the brand; starting from the top restaurants and bars. After that we will start to work further to build brand equity with target events for the consumer as guest shifts, bartenders take over or branded events. This is a job that will take time but with the help of my distributor, we are sure that we will succeed.” Lavender, sage, fennel, thyme – these flavours and scents suffused the summer weeks brothers Enrico and Niccoló, along with their uncle Filippo, spent in their family’s Tuscan villa. Surrounded by olive terraces and gardens bursting with herbs, it was hard for the trio not to fall in love with the bright aromas of their happy family home, especially since their day-to-day lives were so far removed from the villa’s easy Italian elegance.

Friday, 17th March 2023, 8 PM onwards: Guest Shift by Mattia Lotti at Ophelia, The Ashok, Chanakyapuri. Enrico Sabatini, a man with a passion for gin and an eye for detail, revealed that his strategy for winning over Indian consumers involves a deep understanding of their tastes and preferences. He understands that the Indian market is diverse and complex, with a wide range of tastes and preferences, and as such, he is committed to tailoring the brand’s marketing and messaging to resonate with Indian consumers. For our strategic growth we always begin the distribution in the new market by starting to position our gin in high-end places and 5-star hotels and restaurants, working closely with top bartenders to build brand awareness from the top. Creating an event in collaboration with our International Brand Ambassador also gives us the opportunity to accelerate this process.”

International delivery

Italian Co-Founder Enrico Sabatini will lead the tour across India. He will meet with guests and show them the first gin that combines Tuscan botanicals and herbs with traditional London Dry Gin distilling methods in a stunning bottle that looks like the Tuscan landscape. From Tuesday, March 14, 2023, to Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, Sabatini’s very own Co-Founder Enrico Sabatini and Mattia Lotti, Sabatini’s Global brand Ambassador, will take you through a gin-filled week filled with refreshing guest shifts and masterclasses to be-GIN summer on the right note. All about Sabatini Gin tour and more: Sabatini Gin As Ugo says, “Italy was built on the success of family-run businesses, some of which have gone on to be leading, international brands. Our aspiration is to do the same with Sabatini Gin – to establish it as a leading, premium brand that can connect people around the world with the wonders of Tuscany.” In the end, the Sabatinis decided on an evocative blend of Tuscan botanicals: coriander, sage, lemon verbena, olive leaves, thyme, orris, wild fennel, juniper and lavender. But, even with the botanicals decided, the Sabatinis had a long way to go. Over the course of a year, they tried a dozen recipes to find the key to their perfectly-balanced Tuscan gin. Keeping the entire family involved was a challenge at times, but the Sabatinis made the effort.

It’s the story of the Sabatini family: their lives, loves and losses, told through the bounty of their land. Whatever flavour profile they chose, it was clear that Sabatini Gin had to be a truly Tuscan gin, just as they were a truly Tuscan family. So, they took inspiration from the classic Italian flavours that had made their childhood summers at the villa so magical. The goal of Sabatini Gin was clear from the beginning. As Ugo explains, “It’s not only about the flavour. Our gin tells a story.” Gin, Filippo says, always played a central role in this ritual of the evening aperitivo. He says, “Gin and tonic has always been our favourite drink. Enrico started introducing us to new gins, and we discovered a whole new world!”Sabatini Gin is made with home-grown botanicals and distilled in London Dry Style. This combination creates a perfect balance in flavours consisting in a pleasant aroma of fresh herbaceous and lemon scent, with nuances that refer to the Tuscan countryside. Sabatini Gin is best described as a London Dry Gin with a Tuscan soul because it recently won the Silver medal in the London Dry Gin category of the World Gin Award 2023. The Sabatini’s passion, love for their land, and pride in their heritage resulted in the creation of this, which is a fruit of a perfect fusion of flavours and aromas. This Gin contains nine strictly Tuscan botanicals: juniper, of course, but also coriander, iris, wild fennel, lavender, olive leaves, wild thyme, also known as savoury in Tuscany, lemon verbena, and sage, the majority of which are derived from wild plants collected in the villa’s gardens. Alessandro, who’s sometimes called 'The Godfather' for his impeccable mixology skills, tasted every iteration of Sabatini Gin. Also key to the gin’s development was Mariantonietta Varamo, a fellow Tuscan and incredibly talented bartender. Mari had already made history as the first female bartender ever to mix the perfect Martini at Duke’s Bar. She loved the gin so much – its versatility, its classic structure and its truly Tuscan flavour profile – that she joined the Sabatini team, making it her mission to introduce Sabatini into London’s tight-knit network of supremely talented bartenders.