Gin · Spain
Gin Distilleries in Spain
Tour 6 gin distilleries in Spain. Each offers visits, tastings or experiences you can book directly — including Puerto de Indias, Destilerías Acha, Corpen Barcelona.
6distilleries
Santamanía Destilería Urbana
Spain's pioneering urban craft distillery
About gin distilleries in Spain
Few countries take gin as seriously as Spain. The Spanish gin tonic, served in a balloon glass over big ice with carefully chosen botanicals as garnish, turned a simple highball into a national ritual and helped make Spain one of the world's great gin-drinking nations. That enthusiasm has fuelled a confident domestic distilling scene that blends long history with modern flair. Gin's Spanish roots run deep on Menorca, where a British naval presence in the eighteenth century left a lasting taste; today Destilería Xoriguer in Mahón still makes a wine-spirit-based gin with its own protected geographical designation. Elsewhere the mood is contemporary and Mediterranean. Gin Mare from Destilerías MG popularised a savoury, herb-and-olive style now imitated worldwide, while Barcelona's Santamanía Destilería Urbana and Corpen Barcelona represent a wave of urban craft distillers. Seville's Puerto de Indias built a global following on its strawberry gin, and the Basque Destilerías Acha adds northern heritage to the mix. A gin trip through Spain can swing from historic island distilleries to glass-fronted city craft houses, with a perfect gin tonic never far away.
Gin styles & how it's made
Spanish gin spans an unusually wide spectrum. At the historic end, Destilería Xoriguer in Menorca distils from a wine-base spirit rather than the usual grain, flavouring it with juniper and herbs in a method that earned Mahón gin its own geographical designation of origin, a maritime style steeped in citrus and forest-floor notes. The modern movement is defined by a Mediterranean sensibility: Gin Mare, made by Destilerías MG near Barcelona, distils thyme, basil, rosemary and Arbequina olives separately for a savoury, culinary profile that reshaped expectations of what gin could be. Urban craft distillers such as Santamanía Destilería Urbana and Corpen Barcelona work in small batches with local and seasonal botanicals, while Puerto de Indias in Seville, one of the city's oldest distilleries, leans into fruit-forward innovation with its strawberry gin. The Basque Destilerías Acha brings its own regional heritage. Expect everything from classic juniper to herbaceous, coastal and fruity.
Where to taste gin in Spain
Catalonia is the obvious starting point, with Barcelona and the Costa Dorada home to Destilerías MG, Santamanía Destilería Urbana and Corpen Barcelona, all within reach of a city that treats the gin tonic as an art form. Andalusia draws gin lovers to Seville, where Puerto de Indias carries a long distilling lineage alongside its modern strawberry expression. For something genuinely historic, the Balearic island of Menorca is worth the journey to Destilería Xoriguer in Mahón, where the island's British-influenced gin tradition is still very much alive. The Basque Country, home to Destilerías Acha, offers a northern counterpoint with its own food and drink culture. Tasting opportunities range from formal distillery tours to the simpler pleasure of ordering a well-built gin tonic in a good local bar.
What to expect on a tour
Visiting a Spanish distillery often comes wrapped in the country's gin tonic culture, so expect tastings to celebrate the serve as much as the spirit. Guides may walk you through botanicals before showing how a gin tonic is built: the right glass, plenty of ice, a quality tonic and a garnish chosen to echo the gin's character, treated almost as a third ingredient. Urban distilleries such as those in Barcelona tend to be sleek and design-led, with visible stills and small-batch storytelling, while historic producers lean on heritage and place. Tour formats vary, so check availability and language options in advance; some sites focus on production tours, others on tastings or cocktail experiences. As ever, plan transport ahead, especially on the islands and in regions where distilleries sit outside the city centre.
Frequently asked
- Why is Spain so associated with gin?
- Spain embraced the gin tonic as a national ritual, served in balloon glasses with elaborate garnishes, and became one of the world's leading gin-drinking countries. That passion fuelled a thriving domestic distilling scene.
- What is the oldest gin tradition in Spain?
- Menorca's, where an eighteenth-century British naval presence created demand for gin. Destilería Xoriguer in Mahón still makes a wine-spirit-based gin with its own protected geographical designation.
- What makes Gin Mare distinctive?
- Made by Destilerías MG near Barcelona, Gin Mare distils Mediterranean botanicals such as thyme, basil, rosemary and Arbequina olives, creating a savoury, culinary style that influenced gin worldwide.
- Where can I taste craft gin in Barcelona?
- Barcelona and its surroundings host several producers, including Santamanía Destilería Urbana and Corpen Barcelona, alongside Destilerías MG nearby, making the city a strong base for a gin-focused trip.
- Is Puerto de Indias only known for strawberry gin?
- It is best known internationally for its strawberry gin, but Puerto de Indias is also one of Seville's oldest distilleries, so it combines genuine heritage with modern, fruit-forward innovation.
- How should I drink Spanish gin?
- As a gin tonica: a large balloon glass, plenty of good ice, a quality tonic and a garnish chosen to complement the gin's botanicals. The serve is considered part of the experience itself.