Hendrick's Neptunia Gin

As I referenced in my tasting notes for the Hendrix Lunar, here I am with Neptunia to take a look at two of the series. A bit of perspective: I'm not a big G&T fan but enjoy sours, daisies, and especially martinis. I rarely drink a gin neat, but maybe I should reconsider that... This expression tasted neat from a glencairn. A good rest was provided for the pour to settle in. This has floral notes, but overall is quite different from the Lunar. I grew up near the coast in New England and the smells of the grasses in the sand dunes, the brine, saltgrass and marsh elder and that was the immediate association I got when nosing the glass. Maybe I was primed for it by the marketing, but there it was. This gin's nose is green and sweetly floral, slightly piney and tart with a bit of citrus to me. Overall this has a nicely complex aroma. On the tongue this is tart and tough - in a good way. The flavor's foundation is a drier citrus with juniper and spices. Roses, nori, cucumber, and white pepper. This is less sweet on the fade and has a faster finish than the Lunar. In comparison the regular Hendrix expression is a bit softer seeming a bit watery in comparison. Neptunia makes a fine Martini. 4:1 M&R with a single shake of orange bitters, served with a twist should be enough to put a smile on anyone's face. Admittedly I think this gin will come to life with a less oily vermouth, but today was about comparison and not optimization. I like this expression a bit more than the Lunar, but that may change with the day or the mood. They're both very good and different from each other but still clearly derived from the same stock. I'm not at all unhappy both are in my liquor cabinet. I liked both Lunar and Neptunia better than the base expression. I'm not going to be a bit stingy tonight and give this the same 3.75 I gave the Lunar, but if I could split the difference I might. This, to my taste buds, is a bit more interesting. What I'm certain of is that I've enjoyed some really good gin tonight. These Hendrix special releases are coming up aces.

A dry, juniper forward gin with a healthy dose of citrus. It may be our imagination, but there also seems to be a salinity here which ramps up the flavors and brings them to the fore. After several seconds, notes of orange zest and peppercorn come through, ending with a near creamy mouthfeel. Quite tasty and zesty. Definitely try this with a top quality tonic, or if so inclined, a Winston Churchill style martini.

Tasty gin. Nice, dry, juniper forward with notes of citrus. Some salty air/marine qualities to it, hints of cucumber. Solid on the rocks, gin and tonic, or spirit forward cocktail gin. Very clean and crisp.

Very interesting flavours. Ok straight, ok with tonic or soda. Feel it's a little over priced but would buy more often if it wasn't so expensive comparatively.

Hendrick’s is my go to, widely available, reasonably priced gin. This was my favorite variation from the original which adds a very nice citrus flavor.

Coastal salt on the nose. Spices appear in the palate, especially pepper. More delicate and subtle than the original. Mild brine on the finish.