点评:One of our favorite stops during our Azores vacation was finding and visiting this gem. The Gin Library is located in a cozy property called Solar Branco Eco Estate, Ponta Delgado. You can read more about that elsewhere, but let’s focus on why everyone comes to visit in the first place: the experience with Gin!
Once you find the property off the dangerously narrow Azorean roads, you will be greeted with a nice parking lot. If you’ve been to the Azores before you can appreciate that luxury. If you haven’t been, trust me - that ALONE is a big deal, especially for any American visitor.
After parking, you follow the sings on the property to the Gin Library, and once you arrive you will see a small room full of countless unique bottles of nearly every Gin imaginable. We were greeted by the great, friendly and knowledgeable Ruben. Ruben is the living embodiment of a Gin encyclopedia. He shared with us the layout of the Gin bottles in the room, the exchange program they have with Gin aficionados (basically you bring them a bottle of Gin from wherever you are from, and if they have never had it before, they will exchange it with one of theirs that you get to choose), and walked us through the fine selection of house Gins.
Another staff member (Ricardo) shared his expertise on the best ways to experience and enjoy a proper Gin tasting. His depth of knowledge and clear communication style was impressive.
After ordering a generous portion of Gin and tonic of our choice using our newly acquired Gin selection skills, we then partook in the culinary delights of Rafael (another fabulous staff member) and were blown away by the delicious Mexican cuisine we enjoyed with our beverages while on the cozy property taking in the misty weather and simply enjoying the day. Rafael by the way, has a fine quality control mechanism for authentic Mexican gastronomy.
Special shout out to Lemon (staff lady) who signed our bottle with a beautiful departing message and also happens to design all the exquisite artwork on the house Gin bottles.
This is a must stop if you are on Sao Miguel. The property is gorgeous, the staff is all friendly and knowledgeable, the food delicious, the Gin is spectacular and the ambience is second to none.
翻译:在亚速尔群岛度假期间,我们最喜欢去的地方之一就是发现并造访这个宝地。金酒图书馆位于蓬塔德尔加德的Solar Branco生态庄园内。关于这个地方的更多介绍可以在其他地方看到,不过我们还是重点聊聊人们前来造访的真正原因吧:那就是体验金酒的魅力!
穿过亚速尔群岛那些狭窄得几乎危险的道路后,你会看到一个不错的停车场。如果你曾到访过亚速尔群岛,就能体会到这种便利是多么难得。如果你还没去过,相信我——光是这一点就意义非凡,尤其是对于美国游客而言。
停车后,沿着园区内的指示牌前往金酒图书馆。到达后,你会看到一个小房间,里面摆满了数不清的、各式各样的金酒瓶,几乎囊括了你能想到的所有种类的金酒。接待我们的是友善又博学的鲁本。他简直就是一本活生生的金酒百科全书。他向我们介绍了房间里各类金酒瓶的排列方式。他们有一个与金酒爱好者互动的交流活动(基本上就是你从自己所在的地方带一瓶金酒过去,如果他们没喝过这种酒,就会用他们店里的某款金酒来与你交换,而你可以自行挑选)。他向我们详细介绍了店内精选的各种金酒。
另一位工作人员里卡多则分享了如何正确品鉴和享受金酒的宝贵经验。他渊博的知识以及清晰易懂的表达方式令人印象深刻。凭借新练就的选 Gin 技巧,我们点了一大杯自己心仪的金汤力。随后,我们品尝了由拉斐尔(另一位超棒的工作人员)精心烹制的美食——那些地道的墨西哥佳肴真是令人惊艳!我们一边享用着美酒与美食,一边置身在这宁静宜人的环境中,感受着雾气蒙蒙的天气,尽情享受这美好的一天。顺便提一下,拉斐尔对正宗墨西哥美食有着极为严格的质量把控标准。特别要感谢Lemon(女员工),她在我们的酒瓶上留下了温馨的离别寄语;她同时还负责设计酒庄内所有杜松子酒瓶上的精美图案。
倘若您前往圣米格尔岛,这里绝对是必游之地。庄园环境优美,员工们亲切又博学,食物美味可口,杜松子酒更是堪称一流,整体氛围也无与伦比。