A hint of spice and herbs typical for gins juniper, coriander and perhaps a tiny bit of pine. The trademark rose is there, but is suppressed slightly by the aromas of honeysuckle, geranium and jasmine. Compared to its Midsummer counterpart, it seemed lighter and more delicate, though no less floral. Certainly, it seemed more floral to me than is typical. Other than that, I do think I caught scent of honeysuckle, geranium, and dare I say it- Jasmine. The exact botanicals used in the gin are not public knowledge, though the familiar fragrance of roses is present, as it is in all Hendrick’s gins. Provided, of course, that the gin captures the aroma of fresh flowers blooming in the moonlight. It would seem to all work out in a bit of serendipitous coincidence. Who, incidentally, also sang a sang called 月亮代表我的心 – The Moon Represents my Heart. It’s also the name of a song first written in the 40s, then resurrected and popularised by the famous singer Teresa Teng. The plant lives up to its name- between sunset and moonrise, it releases a distinctive floral scent that fills the air with a kind of delicate sweetness. The Chinese name is very evocative literally translated as “fragrance come the evening”. In particular, a very special flower called 夜來香, also called the Tonkin Jasmine or Telosma cordata. So, what does stand out to me is the smell of night-blooms. The bustle of the city recedes, but never completely disappears. Even come sundown, it’s still difficult to escape the bright lights and noise of the city. That said, far across the oceans, I find that the description surprisingly resonant. Now, there is a little room for interpretation after all, I don’t live in Scotland (a pity!). The darkness changes things, including how you respond to those around you, everything feels different at night.” Your body doesn’t react to aromas in the same way as during daylight. There is a peculiar sensory attachment to scents at night. In the still of the night, you can get all sorts of smells – there are certain flowers that only release their scent under the light of the moon. I like that feeling and wanted to bottle that sensation of sharing stories under the stars. That feeling when it’s a real dark, calm night, there’s a clear sky and the stars are out. If one is buying these gins, then it only makes sense that one would choose it in part for thematic resonance, and not just for consumption- though consume it we shall.īasically if the gin is selling you an idea, not just a sensation, then how well does it live up to that idea?įrom Hendrick’s Master Distiller, Ms Lesley Gracie: It’s not really part of the marketing behind it, but I believe the concepts of “Lunar” and “Neptunia” are quite abstract and would be best enjoyed with a side of mental interpretation. Since drinking is now a rather more emotional and cerebral process than it used to be, I think the right way is to evaluate two things how much the theme resonates with me, and how the gin actually tastes. The Hendrick’s Cabinet of Curiousities series is a touch more experimental than the typical gin.
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