An innovative Monaco initiative combining craftsmanship, marine exploration and ocean conservation has unveiled the first bottles of a unique underwater-aged gin, created as part of the Prince Explorer project…
The presentation began aboard a catamaran in Fontvieille before moving offshore to the Oceanographic Museum, where renowned freediver Pierre Frolla descended 40 metres to recover the first two bottles from the seabed in the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II.
In total, 226 bottles have spent the past eight months beneath the Mediterranean, exposed to pressure, currents and changing temperatures in what organisers believe is the world’s first attempt to age gin underwater.
The project was conceived to raise awareness of ocean protection while paying tribute to Prince Albert I, the explorer and pioneering oceanographer whose legacy continues to inspire Monaco’s commitment to the seas.
Because each bottle has matured under slightly different underwater conditions, organisers say every one has developed its own unique character, making each bottle a genuine collector’s item.
The first ten bottles will be auctioned, including one specially signed by HSH Prince Albert II and Pierre Frolla, with proceeds benefiting the Princess Charlene Foundation, the Prince Albert II Foundation and other organisations dedicated to marine conservation. The remaining bottles will be sold in Monaco and internationally, with 100 per cent of profits supporting projects that protect the world’s oceans.
Image: Monaco Info