Botanical Spotlight: Violet and Orris Root
Ebra Gin uses a variety of different botanical ingredients, two of the most important being violet and orris root. Our recipe uses violet odorata, a member of the viola family that is originally native to Europe and Asia. This flowering plant has also been referred to as the sweet violet, English violet, or garden violet, and is known for its distinctively sweet smell. Blooming in late spring and early winter, the flower is coveted for its indisputable beauty at a time when few other flowers are at their peak. Dark purple is the most common color (and our personal favorite), but white and pale rose variations of the flower exist as well. Regular use of this delightfully smelling plant started during the Victorian period, where it was used as an essential ingredient in many cosmetic fragrances. While orris root is also used in a variety of fragrances, it’s cultivation requires a much more lengthy process than that of the violet odorata.
Orris root is a derivative of the bulb of the iris flower, a plant originally native to Croatia. Now grown commercially all across the United States, the Iris flower takes between four and five years to grow. Once harvested, the root is dried for an additional three to four years before being prepared as small cubes or a fine powder for use. Orris is often used in the making of perfume and potpourri, and its use as an aromatic dates back as far as Ancient Greece, where it and other flowers were mixed together and used to scent linens. In the production of gin, orris works as a binding agent or fixative, lowering the volatility of other ingredients (such as violet odorata) so that their aroma lasts longer.
Violet and orris root have many overlapping chemical compounds that produce aromatic similarities, making them a strong botanical duo. Their use in Ebra Gin gives our spirit its distinctive floral notes and slight earthy sweetness.
Check out another blog post about the recent praise for our friends at Gin Farallon: https://www.ginfarallon.com/gin-farallon/farallon-in-the-news-high-praise-for-holy-wood/