Armenian Gin & Distilleries
On This Page: Armenian Gin and Distillery directory, reviews and tasting notes, distillery tours in Armenia, interviews with Armenian distillers.
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Armenia has a long history of alcohol production and is known as being a birthplace of wine making, with the oldest evidence being discovered in a cave near Areni from 4100 BC. More recently, during the late 19th Century a thriving brandy industry developed in Armenia, and now in the Armenian capital of Yerevan there are more brandy distillers per capita that in any other city in the world, including Cognac. While the gin industry in Armenia is young and emerged in 2021, a small number of growing gin producers and brands are now developing as the popularity of gin begins to increase.
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Armenian Gin Reviews - A to Z
Vogis Gin
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Vogis Gin, named after the Armenian word for 'Spirit', was launched in 2021 by Co-Founder Vardan Karapetyan. The gin takes inspiration from a gin recipe using Armenian juniper and local botanicals that was created in the 1980s by his Grandfather - scientist and doctor, Professor Vardan Yavruyan. Each of the botanicals used in the gin, including Armenian coriander seeds, basil, chamomile and black rosehips, are distilled individually in copper alembic stills before being blended.
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For more Armenian Gins, try:
- 202 Dry Gin from Istak Distillery in Yerevan
- Astronomer Gin from Science & Spirit
- Oski Gin from Greenwoods Distillery in Yerevan
Meet the Makers
Get to know some of the finest gin creators and distillers from Armenia in our 'Meet the Maker' interviews. Find out how they created and launched their gin, how it's made, what botanicals are used, how best to serve their gins and what they have planned for the future:
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"Our inspiration began when we discovered an old notebook of our grandfather’s, within which he had written his ideas, formulas and processes for the perfect gin recipe. Unfortunately, he had never been able to bring his ideas to life, so we wanted to reproduce it for all to experience." - Co-Founder, Vardan Karapetyan
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The Inside Scoop
With Vardan Karapetyan of Vogis Gin
What has been the recent history of distilling spirits in Armenia?
Armenia has a huge and layered history in spirit making. There have been numerous excavations showing that winemaking was common in Armenia almost 5,000 years ago and there was also evidence of ancient beer masters as, while nowadays Armenian Cognac is well known around the world. This history means there is a lot of responsibility for new producers entering the industry as each of us must live up to the history.
In our case, it's a bit different as we are at the roots of something very new in Armenian spirit-making, the gin industry. In 2021 we were the first local Armenian company to start a gin production, and since then other alcohol producers have also begun to focus on gin. I am pleased to say we gave the Armenian spirit-making industry a whole new direction, which for some reason had been lacking.
What is the Armenian Gin industry like at the moment?
Today there are 3 producers of gin in Armenia and we are so proud to see that within this short timeframe, people have started getting more interested in this drink. Hopefully we'll soon have more producers and more new names.
What makes Armenian gins different?
Almost all the gin producers in the world are using a core of juniper from Macedonia or Italy. Of course, this element creates a certain pattern of taste and aroma. For Vogis we use Armenian botanicals, wild mint, rosehip and basil, all straight from the Armenian Highlands. I think this is what creates the signature taste of our Vogis gin, making it not just a unique drink in Armenia, but also in the global market. The climate of our Highlands adds a very specific stamp to the taste of our Vogis gin and we love that it makes such a huge difference.
What do you see in the future for Armenian Gins?
Although Armenia is seen and represented as a small country with a very dramatic fate, it has huge potential to change through the maximum usage of its natural resources in the right way. My prediction is that the Armenian market will boom soon and create many more unique spirit products that are competitive in the global market, and I'm certain that Vogis Gin will play a huge role in it.
We know that being at the roots of any new wave or new direction has double the responsibility, for your own business and for the entire market, so our efforts are both centred on promoting our own product Vogis and simultaneously bringing Armenian gin and its specific aroma to the forefront of world markets.
Armenia has a huge and layered history in spirit making. There have been numerous excavations showing that winemaking was common in Armenia almost 5,000 years ago and there was also evidence of ancient beer masters as, while nowadays Armenian Cognac is well known around the world. This history means there is a lot of responsibility for new producers entering the industry as each of us must live up to the history.
In our case, it's a bit different as we are at the roots of something very new in Armenian spirit-making, the gin industry. In 2021 we were the first local Armenian company to start a gin production, and since then other alcohol producers have also begun to focus on gin. I am pleased to say we gave the Armenian spirit-making industry a whole new direction, which for some reason had been lacking.
What is the Armenian Gin industry like at the moment?
Today there are 3 producers of gin in Armenia and we are so proud to see that within this short timeframe, people have started getting more interested in this drink. Hopefully we'll soon have more producers and more new names.
What makes Armenian gins different?
Almost all the gin producers in the world are using a core of juniper from Macedonia or Italy. Of course, this element creates a certain pattern of taste and aroma. For Vogis we use Armenian botanicals, wild mint, rosehip and basil, all straight from the Armenian Highlands. I think this is what creates the signature taste of our Vogis gin, making it not just a unique drink in Armenia, but also in the global market. The climate of our Highlands adds a very specific stamp to the taste of our Vogis gin and we love that it makes such a huge difference.
What do you see in the future for Armenian Gins?
Although Armenia is seen and represented as a small country with a very dramatic fate, it has huge potential to change through the maximum usage of its natural resources in the right way. My prediction is that the Armenian market will boom soon and create many more unique spirit products that are competitive in the global market, and I'm certain that Vogis Gin will play a huge role in it.
We know that being at the roots of any new wave or new direction has double the responsibility, for your own business and for the entire market, so our efforts are both centred on promoting our own product Vogis and simultaneously bringing Armenian gin and its specific aroma to the forefront of world markets.
