As drinkers around the world raise a glass for World Gin Day, one luxury Swiss label is rewriting the rules of the craft by putting taste before mass production. John E. Kaye gets the measure of Lalla Gin
World Gin Day returns tomorrow, June 14th, and with it comes the annual fanfare of social media campaigns and cocktail showcases. But one of the most talked-about names in premium spirits right now is one that many British drinkers still haven’t heard of.
Lalla Gin, distilled in the heart of Switzerland, doesn’t do supermarket listings or mass-market giveaways. There are no slogans and no rush to scale. What it does offer, say its founders, is something harder to replicate: absolute control over the quality of every bottle—and a refusal to compromise in pursuit of visibility.
“Exclusivity isn’t something we market,” the brand’s founder Christal Lalla told me. “It’s just a consequence of how we work. We produce in very small runs, and we never release anything until it meets our internal standard. That means some batches take longer, and some runs are never repeated. It’s not for everyone—and we’re fine with that.”
While dozens of craft distilleries have chased novelty flavours or gimmicky branding, Lalla has taken a more refined approach. Its signature Four Seasons bottles make a confident visual statement, but their design steers clear of clutter. According to Christal, this reflects the gin’s focus: a clean, composed spirit built around a tight core of selected botanicals of each of the seasons, all with Swiss bio quality. And the labels – all completely self-designed by Christal – show on their back side a special self-painted picture representing the respective season.
Many ingredients are locally foraged or sourced from the surrounding region, and the distillation process is deliberately unhurried, with no industrial shortcuts. The jury of the prestigious DistiSwiss competition rewarded this with three silver medals
“We’re not trying to be quirky or complicated,” she said. “The complexity should come from how it tastes—not from how it’s packaged.”
That philosophy has earned the gin a growing base of loyal followers, particularly among private buyers and boutique retailers in Switzerland and neighbouring markets. Limited edition gift sets are released online at LallaGin.ch and often sell out around events like World Gin Day and Christmas. Some releases are only available once…and once only.
The brand’s success to date has been quiet but deliberate. Rather than chasing distribution deals, Lalla Gin has relied on word of mouth and repeat custom. The company says it receives regular inquiries from overseas retailers but is cautious about expanding.
“We’ll grow, but we won’t dilute what we’ve built,” Christal explained. “We’ve turned down more than we’ve accepted. Our aim is to be the best—not the biggest.”
It’s a stance that sets Lalla apart in a market where even high-end spirits now compete for attention in crowded bars and curated Instagram feeds. For its founders, exclusivity means focus, and the conviction that good taste needs no advertising.
“Gin has become noisy. We’re doing the opposite. If someone opens one of our bottles and really pays attention to what’s in the glass, that’s enough for us.”
Lalla Gin has recently unveiled a limited-edition Carnival Gin for fans of Germany’s so‑called “fifth season”. Produced in Cologne—the heartland of German carnival tradition—this small‑batch release celebrates the Rhineland’s famous festivities with a spirit crafted especially for the occasion.
Further information
Produced with support from Lalla Gin. Visit www.lallagin.ch
All photos: Courtesy, Lalla Gin
