Santa Ana is a fabulous new gin that pays homage to 1920s Manila and the legendary Santa Ana Cabaret. It evokes the nostalgia of a smoky tropical Champagne room, big band swing and the glamour and decadence of the dancehall days of this era!
The gin is presented in an exquisite art deco-inspired bespoke bottle, a love letter to 1920s Manila, bringing the optimism and opulence of this iconic era firmly into the 2020s.
A rich, illustrious part of Philippine history includes the emergence of Manila as a hub of entertainment from the 1910s to the 1940s. As worlds collided in early 1900s Manila, the post-Spanish colonisation era ushered in American administration and influence, sparking investment all over the city. Manila became a great art deco city, with a notable contribution from the famed American architect Daniel Burnham, who designed many of Chicago's most iconic art deco landmarks.
The legendary Santa Ana Cabaret was opened by US soldier John Carson and his local backers. It soon become the "largest cabaret in the world with the best dance music in the Orient", attracting well-heeled Manileños and American visitors alike.
A playground to the rich and famous, Santa Ana's guests danced to the music of Vic Hernandez and the Swing-sational, with a range of styles, from the Charleston to tango, waltzes, blues and jazz. So, Santa Ana Gin is inspired by this iconic musical era and also by the luscious larder of plant life that the Philippines offers.
Used as the main ingredient in luxury perfumes, such as the iconic Chanel No. 5, this provides delicate floral and aniseed notes.
Adds ginger, pepper spice and balsamic flavours.
A small citrus fruit that provides aromatic lime and tangerine-like notes.
Another native citrus fruit with sour lime and orange notes.
The combination of these botanicals that blend floral top notes with a fresh tropical citrus palate makes this gin unique.
Santa Ana Gin is distilled in the Charente region of France, using both a traditional alembic pot still and a rotary evaporator (rotovap). The latter method, which involves vacuum distillation at a lower temperature, is a technique often preferred for bringing out more delicate fruit, floral or herbal characteristics without degradation by heat.
The result is a richly exotic flavour that retains an elegant and refined profile, perfectly suited to many delicious cocktails 🍸 🍹 and food pairings. Try it with oysters 🦪, the brininess really bringing out the gin's subtle aniseed notes!
As a neat gin, the nose is intensely aromatic with floral and citrus notes plus a hint of anise. The palate shows sweet citrus and liquorice with juniper freshness, floral tones, some sweet anise powder and a touch of key lime pie emerging on the finish.
You can use a variety of good quality tonic waters with this gin, but Fentimans Pink Grapefruit works well in a G&T (see below), the anise coming through further with a refreshing bittersweet edge from the grapefruit in the tonic.
Here are a few cocktail suggestions. Just combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake without ice for 10 seconds. Then fill with ice and hard shake for another 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled glass, such as a cocktail coupe and garnish.
These are really easy cocktails we can all make at home. The Basil Smash is particularly delicious 😋
Enjoy with a cheeseboard, charcuterie, Padron peppers, oysters … or purely as an indulgent treat with foot-tapping music in the background!
Santa Ana Gin is available from Master of Malt. RRP is £29.99.
