Gin Mare Unlocks Lagos’s Mediterranean Taste Buds

Lagos discovered its Mediterranean taste buds last week.

Picture walking into what you thought was a typical Lagos event and finding yourself transported to a Spanish coastal village. The air smelled like rosemary. Fruits and greenery created scenery that looked like it belonged in a European travel magazine. The lighting captured that golden hour glow that makes everything look like it’s in a film.

Then you taste the cocktails and realize what your palate has been missing.

Gin Mare, the Spanish gin that’s been perfecting Iberian distillation since 2008, uses olives in their gin. Actual olives. Plus rosemary, basil, and thyme from coastal Spanish regions. The result tastes like drinking a Mediterranean summer, which sounds unreal until you try it and understand exactly what that means.

What made the evening fascinating was watching Lagos connect with Spanish coastal culture in such an authentic way. The room was full of the Lagos elite, lifestyle curators, and cocktail enthusiasts who recognize genuine craftsmanship when they experience it.

“Mediterranean living is about slowing down to appreciate quality,” explained Ibiyemi Dada, Senior Brand Manager, Brown Forman Portfolio. “We wanted Lagos to taste what centuries of Spanish coastal culture feel like.”

This cultural curiosity became the evening’s defining characteristic. The questions guests asked revealed something beautiful about Lagos culture, as they sought to understand the olive groves, the Mediterranean roots of the spirit, and the traditions behind its unique botanicals.

“The curiosity was incredible,” said Oyinkansola Afolabi, Brand Manager, Gin Mare. “People were genuinely interested in Spanish coastal culture, not just trying a new drink.”

L-R Ioannis Simos, Premium Spirits Director. Oyinkansola Afolabi, Brand Manager, Gin Mare. Goran Sladic, General Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company. Ibiyemi Dada, Senior Brand Manager, Brown Forman. Chris Christodoulakis, National Sales Director. 

The cultural exchange felt natural and genuine. By the end of the night, conversations had shifted to Spanish coastal food culture and travel plans, with guests planning home bar upgrades around botanical gins.

Gin Mare’s Nigerian launch at Salma’s Victoria Island showcased how beautiful cultural exchange can be when heritage meets curiosity. Mediterranean living may have originated in Spain, but after Wednesday night, it now has a Lagos address too.

Whenever you encounter Gin Mare on a menu, the recommendation is simple: order it. The Spanish coastal influence creates something distinct enough to warrant a place in any serious home bar.

See photos from the event below, and don’t forget to follow the Gin Mare lifestyle on Instagram.