Description
The Aura distillery tour in Buzet starts in a century-old cellar in the heart of town, where the smell of herbs and spices greets you at the door. A family runs the place, and its recipes come from their grandmothers. They make herbal and fruit brandies, gin, cream liqueurs and jams, with ingredients picked by hand on the slopes of Ćićarija, on the island of Cres and in family gardens.
Over about an hour and a half a guide walks you through the whole process, from soaking herbs and wild fruit, to distilling Karbun gin and the Aura Teranino, to bottling, labeling and packing. Then you sit down to taste.
- Three brandies or liqueurs of your choice
- Two Aura cocktails or spritzes
- A sweet platter with two jams and three kinds of chocolate
- A savory platter of cheese, cured meats, olives, artichokes, tomatoes, bread and the estate's own oil
A shop in the distillery sells the full range, from brandies and gin to jams, chocolate, olive oil, vinegar and gift sets, and every product can be tried first. Buying is never required. The tour is led live and can be followed in English, Italian or Croatian, which makes it an easy stop for a taste of Istria in northern Croatia.