Flavor Profile
Hendrick’s Amazonia Gin is a limited-edition release that takes inspiration from Distiller Lesley Gracie’s trip to Venezuela and the Amazon River Basin. Similar to other gins inspired (or distilled in the region) Hendrick’s Amazonia adds Pink Peppercorn to its base, in addition to the vanilla-like Tonka Bean.
Hendrick’s Amazonia is a travel exclusive— which means I had to source it passing through Duty Free in London.
Tasting notes
Aroma: Vivid and tropical on the nose. Finely chopped, juicy and maybe over-ripe pineapple leaps from the glass. Guava nectar, passion fruit, sweet lime and a hint of rose. It’s perhaps one of the most over-the-top among Hendrick’s limited release series.
Flavor: Sipped, some of the underlying Hendrick’s Gin and gin botanicals shine through. Pineapple, juniper and angelica. Mid-palate, there’s lime, ripe passion fruit, and lots of heady, dewy elderflower. Late, some pepperiness from the cubeb comes through, but also a warm hazy hint of vanilla and tonka bean.
Finish: Musky rose emerges from the background with a bit more clarity. The echoes of tropical fruit salad remain at low volume as well. Moderate warmth amidst a long finish
Cocktails and suggested serves
Hendrick’s Amazonia is a travel exclusive, and therefore unlikely to be a part of bar programs. That might be for the best, as it is a challenging mixing gin. It doesn’t work well in everything.
Try it in simple mixed drinks like the gin and lemonade or gin and soda— using a Coconut flavored seltzer almost gives a tropical pina colada vibe.
Mixed, I prefer it in a central starring role where its flavors can shine. Think a Martini w/ a twist (avoid the Gibson, approach with caution in the Dirty Martini or even a Martini garnished w/ olive). Also pairs well with simple citrus, like the Rickey or Tom Collins.
I don’t think it’s something I would reach for in a Negroni, Last Word or Gimlet (w/ the preserved Lime Juice, fresh would be a different story).
Overall, Hendrick’s Amazonia
While a creative riff on top of the beloved Hendrick’s base, Hendrick’s Amazonia is going to be divisive. There’s plenty of juniper on here, so the core issue isn’t “is it a gin?” It’s instead a question of how much do you enjoy those overbearing tropical fruit notes?
Hendrick’s Amazonia is a bold gin that borders on imbalance. The tropical, pineapple notes read as a bit artificial and candy-like. The nose is all tropical fruit, while the palate is more balanced in comparison.
Overall, there’s parts of it that I enjoy— but I would have liked it a bit better with more complexity in the botanicals, and a bit less of the fruit.
If you’re passing through Heathrow and want the other Hendrick’s limited edition to round out your collection, there’s nothing I say here that should dissuade you. But there’s better travel exclusive gins out there, if judged on merit alone.