Latvijas balzams has released a new premium gin to unlock the essence of the Baltic region with a blush of black currant and provide the unique taste of handcrafted Cross Keys Gin®. The first markets to roll out the novelty will be Baltic States, the UK and travel retail, followed by shipments to Australia and Italy.
“I’m totally in love with this new gin. Yes, it’s another take on the pink gin trend, but to be honest, our Cross Keys is more sophisticated with its deep purple tinge and I’m sure it will bring a great twist to all gin cocktails,” said Maris Kalnins, the Global Brand Director of Cross Keys Gin.
“There are three special reasons why this pink gin will steal everyone’s heart: for one, it has a perfect harmony of bitterness and sweetness, layered with a fresh berry aroma on the top. Two, it’s a great example of finest art of distillery handcrafted in small batches. Three, it has a striking pink colour that will attract each bartender’s eye,” according to Kalnins.
“The additional ingredient to its uniqueness is our signature clay flask. For over 250 years the pure, fresh taste of our drinks has been preserved using natural clay bottles and Cross Keys Gin Black Currant will have it too,” he said.
Cross Keys Gin® is a locally handcrafted, small-batch gin that took its inspiration from the legendary Riga Black Balsam and was created in 2018 by the same Master Distiller who holds the secret recipe for the centuries-old bitter. The gin takes its name from two crossed keys – an ancient symbol of urban hospitality in Latvia and part of Riga’s heraldry. Cross Keys Gin Black Currant has a well-balanced interplay between the traditional juniper, a light breeze of local herbals and a touch of sun-ripened black currant sweetness.
It is bottled in a distinctive clay bottle to enhance the flavour and deliver its signature smooth taste. Distilled with four botanicals of juniper, rosemary, chamomile and linden blossoms, gathered during the Latvian summer, Cross Keys Gin captures the essence of the Baltics and the quality of the gin was recently recognised with a Gold Medal at The Spirits Business Gin Masters 2019.