Hendricks Neptunia Gin

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 43.4% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Hendrick's Neptunia adds botanicals from the Scottish coast to the house style shaped by cucumber and rose. The landscape around the Gin Palace in Ayrshire inspired Lesley Gracie to create this maritime interpretation. The recipe includes locally sourced coastal plants, among them seaweed and coastal thyme, as well as additional lime peel. These give the gin its citrus and herbal character with a subtle salty note.

Launched in March 2022, Neptunia was the fourth limited edition in the Cabinet of Curiosities series, in which Lesley Gracie explores different botanical ideas. The gin is based on rectified neutral grain spirit and is offered at 43.4% in a bottle containing 0.7 litres. A slice of cucumber makes a suitable garnish for a gin and tonic.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, zesty citrus notes meet a fresh sea-breeze impression and green herbal notes.
• Palate: On the palate, vibrant notes of grapefruit, lime and bergamot develop into coastal herbal notes with a subtle saltiness and a savoury umami impression. Pine-like juniper, cucumber and rose remain discernible in the background.
• Finish: The finish combines clear citrus notes with coastal herbs and a subtle saltiness before gentle floral notes unfold.

Distillery/Bottler:

Hendrick's belongs to William Grant & Sons and was launched in 1999. Master Blender David Stewart and Lesley Gracie, who had joined the development team in Girvan in 1988, worked on its creation. They tested around 21 recipes for the original gin. A key part of the production approach is combining two distillates from different types of still: Bennett and Carter-Head process the same botanicals but produce distillates with different aromas and textures. The two distillates are then blended together.

The Hendrick's Gin Palace stands on the grounds of the Girvan Grain Distillery in South Ayrshire and opened in October 2018. The historical models for the stills used there date from 1860 and 1948 respectively. Distillation is controlled manually. To develop further editions, Lesley Gracie has a laboratory, smaller experimental facilities and two greenhouses where botanicals grow for new recipe ideas.

Facts: