There’s a new gin in town, and its main ingredient is the national flower. Proclamation Gin is a locally produced spirit inspired by local flavors and ingredients. Its main botanical is sampaguita, which gives it a distinctive floral flavor. 

Co-founders Carlo Calma and Cheryl Tiu are both gin lovers. They worked together to create a way to showcase Filipino culture and heritage in a medium that people all around the world can enjoy. 

Calma and Tiu chose sampaguita as the gin’s main botanical because they believe it “embodies humility, purity and strength, [which] are also symbolic of the distillation process of this gin.”

The sampaguita flowers used for Proclamation are handpicked daily by women farmers in Central Luzon to ensure that only the best buds are used for the distilling process. 

The tasting notes say that the gin smells of “toasted grains reminiscent of summer fields in the central part of the Philippines with the warm, relaxing climate, [that makes] a distinct mark.” There’s also “a hint of nutty, salty and deep earth aromas.”

The gin also has a “smoky, fermented flavor [that] initially hits the tongue and evolves into a slightly honeyed overall [taste], leaving a satisfying warm finish. It surprises with very little hints of its floral-infused distillation, and impresses with a unique and fresh character that is smooth and, not surprisingly, very organic.” 

You can order Proclamation Gin (P3,000+) through the brand’s website.