Virunga

If you think there's no room for a new brand anymore, pay attention. Siblings Alexis and Sophie Lebedoff, together with Batiste Ryckaert, have just launched Virunga Gin – a name that prides itself on supporting the world-famous mountain gorillas. The three makers came up with the idea of traveling through the Virunga Mountains in Central Africa. While enjoying nature and tasting local liquors, plants and herbs, they thought about developing a spirits company that would give a percentage of each sale to the protection of wildlife. So, “Wilderness Spirits” was born. Virunga Gin is the first product introduced by the team. The brand contributes to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, which focuses on the conservation of critically endangered mountain gorillas and their habitat. The Virunga National Park, which spans Congo, Uganda and Rwanda, is home to more than 1,000 of these monkeys and with the help of projects like this, the number is increasing. The gin draws its essence from the misty forest overlooking the volcanoes of Central Africa. The precise blend of rare African botanicals and the know-how of one of the oldest English distilleries make this gin a reflection of the mountain gorillas - robust and strong at first glance to full of real tenderness and finesse.