Nordés Gin

Nordés Gin captures the wild, aromatic character of Galicia in a distinctly contemporary Spanish gin. Created from an unusual spirit base derived from local Albariño grapes, it brings together eleven botanicals in a beautifully fragrant expression shaped by fruit, flowers, herbs and the Atlantic coast. Named after the refreshing north-easterly Nordés wind, this award-winning gin is silky, vibrant and unmistakably individual — a modern taste of Galicia designed to turn the familiar gin experience into something altogether more evocative.

Tasting Notes & Experience

Intensely aromatic yet wonderfully poised, Nordés Gin opens with white flowers, citrus blossom and delicate Albariño fruit, lifted by eucalyptus and fresh herbal notes. The palate is silky and rounded, revealing lemon verbena, sage and bay leaf alongside gentle citrus and a subtle vinous sweetness from its grape-derived base. Juniper remains elegantly restrained rather than dominant, while ginger and coastal glasswort bring warming spice and a faint saline freshness to the long, clean and uplifting finish.

Key Details

• Producer: Nordés
• Type: Contemporary Style Gin
• Region: Galicia, Spain
• ABV: 40%
• Volume: 700ml
• Spirit Base: Distillate Derived from Galician Albariño Grapes
• Botanicals: Juniper • Sage • Bay Leaf • Peppermint • Eucalyptus • Lemon Verbena • Glasswort • Ginger • Hibiscus • Black Tea • Cardamom
• Production: Eleven Botanicals Individually Macerated Before Slow Distillation
• Signature Serve: Premium neutral tonic over plenty of ice, garnished with three fresh white grapes

Craftsmanship & Story

Nordés was born in Galicia from a desire to create a gin that tasted unmistakably of its origins. Its story began when winemaker Juan Luis Méndez, sommelier Xoan Cannas and distiller Pepe Albela combined their expertise in wine, gastronomy and distillation, undertaking hundreds of trials as they searched for an expression capable of capturing their Atlantic homeland. Their defining decision was to move beyond the conventional neutral grain foundation of gin and instead create the spirit around a distillate derived from Galicia’s emblematic Albariño grape. Eleven botanicals complete the recipe, including six with particularly strong ties to the Galician landscape: sage, bay leaf, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemon verbena and glasswort. Before distillation, each botanical is macerated individually so its extraction can be carefully controlled, helping preserve the floral, herbal, citrus and coastal nuances that define the finished gin.

Special Features

What makes Nordés so distinctive is the way its winemaking heritage and Galician landscape are woven directly into the spirit. The Albariño-derived base contributes a smooth, rounded texture and delicate fruit character, creating a softer canvas for botanicals than the grain spirit traditionally associated with gin. Juniper is deliberately balanced by fragrant eucalyptus, lemon verbena and peppermint, savoury sage and bay leaf, floral hibiscus, warming ginger and cardamom, structured black tea and glasswort, whose coastal origins reinforce the Atlantic story. Even its name evokes Galicia: the Nordés is the north-easterly wind associated with clear skies and fine weather. Presented in its immediately recognisable white-and-blue bottle, the result is both visually striking and stylistically unconventional — floral, fruity, herbal and refreshing while remaining unmistakably gin.

Recognition & Accolades

Nordés Gin has earned an impressive collection of international awards, reflecting the distinctive character of its Albariño grape base and aromatic contemporary style. From major competition medals to critical acclaim, its recognition has helped establish this Galician original among Spain’s most celebrated modern gins.

• Country Winner – Spain, Contemporary Style Gin – World Gin Awards (2026)
• Double Gold – China Wine & Spirits Awards (2023)
• Gold – Contemporary Style Gin – World Gin Awards (2026)
• Gold – Best Spanish Spirit – USA Spirits Ratings (2025)
• Gold – Concours International de Lyon (2024)
• Gold – Gin of the Year – Gin of the Year Awards (2023)
• Gold – Beverage Testing Institute (2023)
• 92/100 Points – Wine Enthusiast (2020)

Wine Enthusiast also selected Nordés for its Top 100 Spirits of 2020, making it the only Spanish gin represented that year — further recognition of a style that confidently steps beyond traditional gin conventions.

Perfect Serve & Cocktail Pairings

Nordés Gin brings a wonderfully different personality to cocktails, with its silky Albariño-derived base, expressive florals and cool Atlantic herbs favouring fresh, elegant serves. Begin with the signature Gin & Tonic to appreciate its aromatic character at its purest, or explore cocktails that play with its fruit, citrus, herbal and coastal dimensions.

• Nordés Gin & Tonic: Premium neutral tonic, abundant ice and three fresh white grapes create an elegant signature serve that allows the gin’s floral, herbal and Albariño character to shine.
• Galician Spritz: Sparkling wine and soda bring effervescence and brightness to the gin’s vinous fruit and fragrant botanicals, creating a wonderfully refreshing aperitif.
• Atlantic Tom Collins: Fresh lemon and soda accentuate lemon verbena, eucalyptus and citrus notes, producing a long, breezy serve with an invigorating Atlantic freshness.
• Nordés White Negroni: Dry vermouth and gently bitter gentian liqueur contrast beautifully with the gin’s silky grape character, florals and aromatic herbs.
• Balsamic Gin Sour: Bright citrus and subtle sweetness frame the cooling eucalyptus, mint and herbal complexity, while the shaken texture gives the cocktail an indulgently silky character.
• Galician Gin Fizz: Citrus, sweetness, egg white and soda create a light, cloud-like texture through which hibiscus, ginger and refreshing herbal notes gradually emerge.

Whether served simply with tonic or given a more gastronomic cocktail treatment, Nordés retains its distinctive identity — fragrant, silky and refreshing, with the Atlantic character of Galicia always close to the surface.

Food Pairings

Nordés Gin is particularly expressive alongside fresh coastal flavours. Oysters, grilled scallops or citrus-dressed ceviche complement its glasswort salinity, lemon verbena and silky Albariño character, while Ibérico ham and Manchego draw out savoury bay leaf, sage and warming spice. Fresh grapes provide a beautifully simple accompaniment, echoing the gin’s vinous origins and delicate fruit, while sashimi offers an elegant contrast to its fragrant herbal freshness.

Perfect for Gifting or Sipping

Nordés Gin makes an inspired gift for adventurous gin drinkers, lovers of Spanish gastronomy or anyone drawn to spirits with a genuine sense of place. Its Albariño grape foundation, eleven-botanical recipe and unmistakable Galician identity offer a compelling story, while the sculptural white-and-blue bottle gives it immediate presence when presented as a premium gift.

For enjoying at home, Nordés is equally rewarding. Its softer juniper profile and intensely aromatic personality make it approachable served simply over ice, while a neutral premium tonic and three white grapes create the producer’s beautifully understated signature serve. From relaxed aperitivo moments to elegant cocktails and food pairing, it is a gin made for discovery rather than convention.

Fast, Secure NZ-Wide Delivery

Order Nordés Gin online for fast, secure NZ-wide delivery. Every bottle is carefully packed, with premium gift packaging and a personalised message available from COVE 27.