Review: Hendrick’s Neptunia Gin   84/100
A review by Chip Dykstra
Posted July 07, 2023

Hendrick’s Gin is produced in Scotland, in the village of Girvin, Ayrshire by William Grant & Sons (who are perhaps better known for their whisky distillations than their gin).  It is made small batches using two unusual stills, a copper Bennett Still which has been dated to 1860, and a Carter-Head still made in 1948. These stills each serve a different purpose, but together they create a unique gin spirit which is infused with cucumber and rose petals.

The people who make Hendrick’s Gin pride themselves on being just a little quirky, and perhaps a bit eccentric. Their offbeat website revels in the odd and the peculiar and tries to convince all who peruse the site that Hendrick’s Gin is special exactly because of the things which make it odd and peculiar.

Hendrick’s Neptunia is one of the new peculiar Limited Edition spirits in the Hendrick’s Cabinet of Curiosity lineup which has recently arrived in Canada sporting odd names like Lunar, Flora Adora, Orbium and in this case Neptunia.

Hendricks Neptunia Gin was created by their Master Distiller Lesley Gracie. According to the promotional materials sent to me:

Hendricks Neptunia is a limited release that captures the magic of the sea, in a gin. Ms. Lesley Gracie’s creation is as refreshing as her muse, the mighty waves that lash the Ayrshire coast. Infused with an exquisite blend of locally sourced coastal botanicals and with a remarkable crisp citrus finish.

Hendrick’s Neptunia is bottled at 43.4% alcohol by volume.

In the Bottle 5/5

All Hendrick’s Gins are sold in the squat cylindrical bottle shown to the left. At first, I thought the bottle was designed to look like a kettle still with its kettle pot shape. I think I was wrong, the shape instead is meant to replicate an old style apothecary bottle meant to add a curios charm to the overall presentation. The sea green label adds to that charm with a splash of colour which helps us identify this expression from the others in the Curiosity Cabinet, and if I am not mistaken may bottle seems to have a hint of dark green colour as well.

In The Glass 8.5/10

After the floral assault I experienced when I reviewed Hendrick’s Flora Adora (see review here) I was sort of bracing myself for a similar experience when I poured myself a glass of Neptunia. To my relief, although their is still a firm floral component here, the breezes were (in my opinion) more balanced with juniper, cucumber and mint drifting upwards alongside the more retrained bouquet of florals. There is a sort of indistinct brininess which I want to believe is kelp and/or seaweed, although this might be my imagination conjuring up impressions based upon expectation more so than reality. As I nose the glass, I also notice that the air above the glass seems to include more herbal (something like sage and earthy angelica) and spicy (Coriander and citrus zest ) notes than the initial breezes were suggesting. Overall, I am quite happy especially as the juniper is playing a starring role.

In the Mouth 50/60

Bright citrus zest and spicy coriander lead out in front of juniper with a light touch of menthol freshness. (I guess this touch of menthol is meant to represent the effervescence of the coastal sea spray.)  Cucumber and red berries wander into the flavour profile with the blush of a flowery bouquet settling into the background. There is a vague, almost but not quite briny, element that gives the gin a darker side which contrasts with the brighter citrus zest and spice. I sort of imagine autumn spices like sage and thyme mixing with angelica and briny kelp bringing me this darker muskier flavour which seems to run underneath. I admit, I am probably analyzing this just a little more than I should be and creating flavours in my mind out of suggestions rather than realities.

As for cocktail exploration, I guess I am thinking of what I would like to drink on the beach at the seaside. A long tall ice-cold Gin and Ginger seems a good bet. When I try one, I find that the suggestion has validity. At least for my palate.

In The Throat 12.5/15

Neptunia is a little on the dry side with a light bitterness creeping into the finish. The finale  is also spicy with an influence of coriander and citrus zest. A blush of flowery bouquet sort of settles into your consciousness without upsetting the ending.

The Afterburn 8/10

My feelings towards Hendrick’s Neptunia are positive. I like that the floral nature of the spirit is kept in check allowing the juniper have a voice. Citrus and surprisingly, mint, play a significant role in this expression as well. The only thing that niggles at me is that the gin doesn’t really have any obvious partners for cocktails. I would rather a more traditionally juniper forward gin for gimlets and mixing with tonic. But … that Gin and Ginger tasted fine, and I’m sure that other cocktail enthusiasts will have their own ideas as well.

You may read some of my other Gin Reviews (click the link) if you wish to have some comparative reviews.

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My Final Score is out of 100 and you may (loosely) interpret that score as follows:

0-25     A spirit with a rating this low would actually kill you.
26-49   Depending upon your fortitude you might actually survive this.
50 -59  You are safe to drink this…but you shouldn’t.
60-69   Substandard swill which you may offer to people you do not want to see again.
70-74    Now we have a fair mixing spirit.  Accept this but make sure it is mixed into a cocktail.
75-79    You may begin to serve this to friends, again probably still cocktail territory.
80-84    We begin to enjoy this spirit neat or on the rocks. (I will still primarily mix cocktails)
85-89    Excellent for sipping or for mixing!
90-94    Definitely a primary sipping spirit, in fact you may want to hoard this for yourself.
95-97.5 The Cream of the Crop
98+       I haven’t met this bottle yet…but I want to.

Very loosely we may put my scores into terms that you may be familiar with on a Gold, Silver, and  Bronze medal  scale as follows:

70 – 79.5    Bronze Medal (Recommended only as a mixer)
80 – 89.5     Silver Medal (Recommended for sipping and or a high quality mixer)
90 – 95         Gold Medal (Highly recommended for sipping and for sublime cocktails.)
95.5+            Platinum Award (Highest Recommendation)