Hendricks has been going hard recently with new launches and putting unique spins to their award-winning gins. We tried their Lunar gin, which was a pleasant surprise, as it brings in new flavours and aromas to their tried and tested profile.
Their latest entry is the Hendrick’s Amazonia gin, which is a Duty-Free retail exclusive, which is where we got this bottle.
READ MORE: We taste test Hendrick’s Lunar gin to find out if it is worth the hype
We were pretty excited to try this and right off the bat we were impressed by the classic Hendrick’s cucumber and gentle floral rose petals with a lot of tropical fruit notes. From sweet to a slight peppery feel, it was something very different from what’s out there.
Let’s jump into the alcohol review soon.
About Hendrick’s Amazonia gin
Hendrick’s Amazonia Gin was inspired by head distiller Lesley Gracie’s visit to South America in 2013. It was here she met world-renowned explorer Mr Charles Brewer-Carías, and was also introduced to a host of fascinating flora and fauna.
Based on the classic Hendrick’s Gin recipe, which includes cucumber and rose, this small-batch version also uses flora from the Amazon to create a gin that’s tropical and bright with a carefully balanced blend of fruit and floral, but still retains notes of the classic Hendrick’s Gin profile.
The alcohol review
With continued lockdowns and growing cases, we switched up the process and now we drink for work! That means a measured approach to reviewing and exploring the gin one evening with no celebration in mind. As per the usual, we usually pair the gins with a tonic and nothing else in order to keep it simple and also maintain a standard for our reviews.
We used a less sweet tonic, our go-to house brand – the Waitrose no-sugar Indian tonic water. A great neutral tonic for most gins.
First reaction
As we mentioned, there is definitely a tropical vibe to this gin. However, the unmistakable Hendrick’s cucumber and rose are still around, so the familiarity of the gin is always there.
The neutral tonic was perfect to ensure we got the full flavour of the gin, which included some notes of pineapple, maybe a hint of mango and a bit of a spicy finish – the peppery aspect that leaves a bit of feeling on the tongue.
As far as first impressions go, this one was a winner for sure.
The taste
Hendricks’ Amazonia Gin is a bright and tropical gin, which comes through clearly as we continue to drink. The fruitiness and floral aspects become more pronounced throughout the night.
With little information about the exact botanicals used, we can only make some educated guesses, so as we mentioned earlier: pineapple, mango, cucumber, rose, pine, and other rare and amazing fruits and flowers from the Amazon.
The aroma of the gin is almost effervescent with bright floral notes and gentle herbs over just a hint of juniper berry. This is reminiscent of the Lunar gin, but with a different range of notes that are tropical and earthy in nature.
While I try not to use adjectives that are not very clear, for this gin, we can say it is a very exotic gin. Especially around the finish, which has a perfume quality that lingers, which might be one knock that I have against it.
Final judgment
The gin scores well in my book, as it doesn’t try to do too much. It follows the Hendrick’s formula that has made them a household name in gin, while introducing something new and unique to that experience.
From a classic gin standpoint, I see this doing very well as a relaxing evening drink or a base for a cocktail such as a Gimlet, so that might be something to try.
The gin is available at most Duty-Free locations and do check ahead of time if you are travelling.
