The Illusionist Dry Gin 700ml

Max Muggenthaler was a dentist. Tim Steglich was a business economist. Neither had any formal background in distilling when the two friends sat down in Munich in 2015 and decided to build a gin unlike anything else on the market — one that didn't just taste different but actually performed a kind of trick in the glass. Eighteen months of recipe testing followed, conducted largely at private social gatherings where friends and family tasted batch after batch and gave the kind of honest, unfiltered feedback that only people who genuinely love you will offer. What emerged was The Illusionist: a gin built from sixteen organic botanicals, with juniper deliberately stepping back from its usual starring role to make room for something more layered, more floral, and — thanks to one very specific ingredient — genuinely magical.

That ingredient is Clitoria ternatea, the butterfly pea flower, sourced from the Far East and added only after distillation is complete, then removed once it has done its work. The flower imparts a subtly nutty, floral note and, more strikingly, a brilliant sapphire-blue hue to the finished spirit. Pour it neat, and it's a deep, arresting blue. Add tonic water, ginger beer, or any citrus-forward mixer, and the gin's pH drops just enough to trigger a genuine color transformation — blue fading into a soft, gentle pink right in front of you, a piece of real chemistry dressed up as sleight of hand. It's the reason The Illusionist has become a fixture of high-end cocktail programs since its 2016 launch, and the reason bartenders keep reaching for it when they want a drink that performs before the first sip.

Beneath the visual trick sits a genuinely serious gin. A 95% organic wheat distillate forms the base, distilled twice — once through hand-made laboratory-glass coolers, once through a traditional copper pot still — and bottled without chill filtration to preserve the full aromatic range of the botanical blend. Mediterranean rosemary, lavender, and chamomile bring aromatic freshness; orange, grapefruit, lemon, and cranberries add a vibrant citrus-fruit dimension; mace, licorice root, coriander seed, nutmeg flower, angelica root, and lemongrass round the whole composition out with structure and warmth. Because the botanicals are regionally sourced and harvested only once they've reached optimal ripeness, batches carry subtle seasonal variation between winter and summer harvests — a small, deliberate reminder that this is handcrafted spirit, not an industrial product chasing perfect consistency. Housed in a striking matte-black, art-nouveau-styled bottle, The Illusionist is exactly what its name promises: a gin that shows you one thing and then, right in your glass, becomes something else entirely.

Origins & Craftsmanship

The Illusionist Dry Gin was conceived in Munich in 2015 by Max Muggenthaler, a dentist, and Tim Steglich, a certified business economist — two friends with no professional distilling background who spent eighteen months developing and refining their recipe through informal tastings with friends and family, using that feedback to shape the final flavor and aroma profile. The gin launched locally in 2016 to a select group of high-end Munich bars, where it quickly built a following before expanding to a broader European and, eventually, international market. The Illusionist Distillery GmbH remains based in Hohenbrunn, near Munich, and has since expanded its portfolio to include Sentinel Rum, launched in 2023.

Production begins with a 95% organic wheat distillate, distilled at the Illusionist Distillery using both hand-made coolers constructed from laboratory glass and a traditional copper pot still, in which the wheat spirit is heated with the various botanicals, slowly evaporated, and cooled. Sixteen organic botanicals are used in total, sourced primarily from regional suppliers wherever possible: juniper berries, Mediterranean rosemary, lavender, chamomile, coriander seed, nutmeg flower (mace), licorice root, angelica root, orange zest, lemon zest, grapefruit, cranberries, lemongrass, and Clitoria ternatea — the butterfly pea flower. The gin is not chill-filtered, a deliberate choice intended to preserve and enhance the spirit's full aromatic range. The butterfly pea flower is added only after distillation is complete, imparting both a delicate, nutty floral note and the gin's signature deep blue color, before being removed from the finished spirit. Because botanicals are harvested only once they reach optimal ripeness, and because sourcing is regional and seasonal, individual batches carry subtle variation between winter and summer harvests. Bottled at 45% ABV in a distinctive matte-black, art-nouveau-inspired vessel.

Critics Reviews

No numerical critic score is confirmed for this product at this time.

88 Bamboo:
"The botanicals range from citrus fruits, Rosemary, lavender, liquorice root, cardamom and a mysterious flower which lends its blue hues to the gin. A definite herbal and underlying floral tones come through and finishes with a citrus burst."

Flaviar (extended tasting note):
"Appearance / Color: Bright Sapphire. Nose / Aroma: The aroma is bright with florals and citrus lying over pine and eastern spices. Flavor / Taste: In many ways the profile leans toward a classic Dry Gin, but with a broad fruit note, clearly defined florals, and a hit of mixed citrus zest over the juniper notes."

The Illusionist Distillery official tasting notes:
"A fragrant interplay of Mediterranean rosemary, lavender, and chamomile lends aromatic freshness, while orange, grapefruit, lemon, and cranberries introduce a vibrant citrus-fruit dimension. Mace, licorice root, and lemongrass bring structure and warmth, rounding out the composition with elegant depth."

Tastillery (quoted by the distillery):
"The taste is not an illusion... it's genuine and stimulating."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Bright sapphire blue in the glass, an immediately striking color derived entirely from the butterfly pea flower added post-distillation. The aroma opens bright, with florals and citrus lying over pine and eastern spices — Mediterranean rosemary, lavender, and chamomile delivering fresh, herbal lift, while orange, grapefruit, and lemon zest add a vibrant citrus dimension.

Palate
A profile that leans toward a classic Dry Gin at its core, but with a broader fruit note, clearly defined florals, and a hit of mixed citrus zest layered over the juniper. Mace and licorice root bring structure and gentle warmth, while cranberries add a subtle tart-sweet dimension. Lemongrass and coriander seed add brightness and spice, rounding into a smooth, exceptionally well-balanced character.

Finish
Herbal and floral tones persist, closing on a genuine citrus burst. The finish is clean and well-integrated — the seasonal nature of the botanical sourcing means each batch carries its own subtle nuance, a hallmark of the gin's handcrafted, small-batch production.

Quick Overview

Cocktail Suggestions

The Illusionist Gin & Tonic (the signature serve)
2 oz The Illusionist Dry Gin over ice, topped with tonic water — watch the color shift live from royal blue to soft pink as the tonic hits the gin.

Illusionist Spritz
2 oz The Illusionist Dry Gin · Prosecco · soda water · citrus garnish. The acidity from the sparkling wine triggers the same color transformation for a genuinely eye-catching brunch or aperitivo serve.

Classic Martini Variation
The Illusionist Dry Gin · dry vermouth · lemon twist. A citrus twist expressed over the glass will visibly shift the color at the rim — a small theatrical touch for a classic format.