Principe de Los Apostoles Mate Gin 750ML

Principe de Los Apostoles Mate Gin 750ML is an Argentinian botanical gin distilled with yerba mate at 40% ABV (80 proof) in a 750ml bottle. Scored 90 points by Wine Enthusiast and recognized in the KN Wine & Spirits Top 50 Spirits of 2015, this expression is widely credited as the first Latin American premium gin.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: Mendoza, Argentina  |  Style: New World Botanical Gin  |  Distillery: Sol de los Andes

Production & Heritage

Principe de Los Apostoles is produced at the Sol de los Andes distillery in Mendoza, Argentina, using a wheat-based spirit distilled in 200-liter copper pot stills. Each botanical is macerated and distilled individually before the final blend is composed — a labor-intensive process that allows precise control over every flavor component. The botanical roster draws heavily from Argentine terroir: yerba mate sourced from the Misiones province, pink grapefruit skin, eucalyptus, juniper, coriander, and Minthostachys verticillata (known locally as peperina), a wild aromatic herb native to the Andes that has been collected for centuries for its essential oil content. Maceration times are carefully calibrated — yerba mate, eucalyptus, and pink grapefruit skins steep for 24 hours, while peppermint is macerated for only two hours to prevent bitterness and preserve its bright, mentholated character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Red grapefruit pith leads, followed by spicy coriander seed and a wave of cool mint. A deeper, cocoa-like sweetness emerges as the gin opens up in the glass.

Taste: The entry is bold and citrus-forward, with coriander and grapefruit dominating the initial sip. At mid-palate, juniper, pine bark, and gentian assert themselves before yielding to mentholated eucalyptus and straight peppermint on the back palate. The mouthfeel is notably creamy and soft, carrying flavors of spearmint, savory herbs, anise seed, and white pepper.

Finish: Clean and moderately long, with eucalyptus and pink grapefruit lingering alongside a faint herbaceous earthiness. The velvety texture persists, leaving a refreshing mentholated trail.

How to Drink Apostoles Mate Gin

Sipping neat or over a single large ice cube best showcases the complexity of the yerba mate and peperina botanicals; a splash of cold tonic with a grapefruit twist also highlights its citrus backbone. For cocktails, try a Gin & Tonic garnished with fresh mint and grapefruit peel, where the eucalyptus and citrus notes amplify the tonic's quinine bitterness. A Southside works exceptionally well because the gin's built-in mint and herbal character integrates seamlessly with muddled mint and lime. It also shines in a White Negroni, where the creamy mouthfeel and earthy yerba mate stand up to Suze and dry vermouth without being overwhelmed.

Best For

• Gifting a gin enthusiast who has explored classic London Dry and seeks something genuinely different
• Building a New World spirits collection alongside other terroir-driven gins
• Hosting a South American–themed cocktail tasting or asado dinner
• Introducing yerba mate culture to friends through a familiar gin-and-tonic format

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Apostoles Mate Gin taste like? It leads with bold citrus and coriander, transitions into juniper and pine bark at mid-palate, and finishes with refreshing eucalyptus and peppermint. Wine Enthusiast described it as having a "supersweet, cocoa-like aroma and flavor" with a "velvety feel on the palate."

How does Apostoles Mate Gin compare to a classic London Dry? A traditional London Dry gin centers juniper as the dominant note, while Apostoles deliberately dials back juniper in favor of yerba mate, eucalyptus, peppermint, and pink grapefruit — resulting in a warmer, more herbaceous profile with a distinctly South American character.

Is Apostoles Mate Gin good for cocktails? Its creamy mouthfeel and potent botanical load make it an excellent cocktail base, particularly in drinks that benefit from herbal complexity like Gin & Tonics, Southsides, and White Negronis.

Where is Apostoles Mate Gin made? It is distilled at the Sol de los Andes distillery in Mendoza, Argentina, using yerba mate sourced from the Misiones province in northeastern Argentina and peperina gathered from the Andes mountains.

What foods pair well with Apostoles Mate Gin? Grilled Argentinian chorizo benefits from the gin's mentholated cut through rich fat. Ceviche with grapefruit mirrors the citrus notes. Aged Manchego-style cheese complements the earthy yerba mate. Herb-crusted lamb chops echo the eucalyptus and coriander. Dark chocolate desserts pick up on the cocoa-like undertones Wine Enthusiast identified.

What sizes does Apostoles Mate Gin come in? The standard bottle is 750ml, which is the most widely available format.

Is Apostoles Mate Gin worth the price? It positions as a premium craft gin within the New World gin category, and its labor-intensive production — individual botanical maceration and distillation in small copper stills — supports that positioning with genuine complexity rarely found at its tier.

Why Apostoles Mate Gin?

Widely recognized as the first Latin American premium gin, Principe de Los Apostoles carved out a category that barely existed when it launched. The use of individually macerated and distilled botanicals — each with precisely timed steep durations — produces a layered spirit that reads as unmistakably Argentine without abandoning the structural framework of gin. Its 90-point score from Wine Enthusiast and inclusion in the KN Wine & Spirits Top 50 Spirits of 2015 confirm that the unconventional botanical bill translates into genuine quality, not mere novelty. For drinkers looking beyond juniper-forward convention, this remains one of the most distinctive and well-executed terroir-driven gins available.