From the Cognac region, a unique gin. Really

I've never associated the French with gin. But then G'Vine, a premium gin containing the Ugni Blanc grape spirit grown in Cognac, isn't like any gin I've tasted before.

The maker, Euro WineGate, touts G'Vine as an alternative to flavored vodkas. Indeed, it is, with a complex, spicy taste that belies its flowery bouquet. G'Vine is warm with a smooth finish and just a hint of the juniper scent that dominates traditional English gins.

G'Vine's base is a grape neutral spirit. The green grape flower, which blooms for a scant two weeks a year, is macerated into the spirit. The spice comes from nine botanicals chosen for their aroma as well as their taste: ginger root, licorice, green cardamon, cassia bark, coriander, cubeb berries, nutmeg, lime and, naturally, juniper berries.

You could serve G'Vine in a martini or other cocktail but I think it's best on the rocks with a slice of lime, especially if you're serving it to someone who hasn't tasted it yet. The price: $38.