Style & Law

Gin de Mahón carries a protected geographical indication from the European Union, recognized in 2010 and now part of Spirit Drinks Regulation (EU) 2019/787. The name may only be used for gin produced in Mahón according to the specified recipe.

This regulation is unusually strict. It mandates alcohol distilled from wine and stills made of copper, plus wood-fired heating and the exclusion of every botanical except juniper. This clearly sets Gin de Mahón apart from "Distilled Gin" under EU law, which merely requires a minimum of 37.5% ABV and ethanol flavored with juniper, regardless of origin or number of botanicals.

Gin de Mahón also differs from "London Gin." London Gin may only have water added after distillation, plus at most 0.1 grams of sugar per liter. But this category requires neither a geographical origin nor a wood-fired still.

Since only the Xoriguer distillery meets all the requirements, Gin de Mahón is effectively a brand name with legal protection. It comes from a single producer, in a single town at the port of Mahón.

Few, if any, gins in Europe carry comparable restrictions. Genever and Jenever protect at least the name itself, but don't require a copper still or wood fire. Gin de Mahón ties origin, raw material, and craft together in one exact regulation. For Menorca, that's more than paperwork: it ensures the name stays bound to the port of Mahón.