Hernö
£30.00
Hernö was a project waiting to happen. Based in the village of Dala, near the City of Härnösand, Jon Hillgren had discussed his passionate dream for a gin distillery with friends for many years before finally making it all a reality when he ordered and received a German copper pot still in May 2012. Kierstin is her name, and at 250 Litres she is a small batch beauty – but oh boy does she deliver.
Hernö London Dry Gin -
On the nose, Hernö Gin has a piney, even floral air. With hints of citrus and coriander, there is a clear juniper twang complimented by a leafy floral note if you search long enough. To taste, this gin is first and foremost lead by this lovely freshness which lasts long after the gin has disappeared. Juniper is carried on, with some sweetness and lots of zesty lemon and citrus. More spice comes through towards the end, leading on to a peppery, piney and long finish.
Read Gin Foundry's full review here: Hernö Gin
Hernö Old Tom Gin -
In the case of Hernö Old Tom Gin, the team used the same botanicals as in their London Dry, but tweaked the recipe and upped the dose of meadowsweet and honey while also adding sugar after distillation. The sweetness is apparent on the nose but comes to the fore when tasted. The soft mouthfeel and added honey is evident but also accentuates some of the distillery’s core floral characteristics. Meadowsweet and the lingon berries come though a little stronger than in the usual London Dry (to be expected as one is increased in the recipe and the other responds well to sweetness) and the overall effect is a complex and intriguing Old Tom Gin.
Hernö Navy Strength -
To taste, pronounced pepper and spice surge on the palate with the ABV announcing its presence. The Hernö DNA emerges shortly after and the leafy notes of meadowsweet, resinous juniper and lemony coriander seed compliment each other in a well rounded gin. It’s a different flavour journey but where it shines is when it’s used in cocktails. The higher ABV asserts itself on those classic gin cocktails in a way that the London Dry just can’t. Gimlets, Pink Gins and even a Hot Toddy are exceptional with the Navy Strength. The Hernö distillery’s insistence on organic ingredients really comes through at the higher strength too. The smoothness of the gin masks the 57% ABV and the clarity of flavours are remarkably clear.
Hernö Juniper Cask -
Hernö Juniper Cask Gin is the world’s first gin matured in juniper wood casks. In order to do so, the team had to manufacture bespoke casks made of juniper wood which no one had attempted to do before.Once the juniper cask was made, they add in Hernö Gin at 75% ABV for 30 days before cutting with water and bottled at 47% ABV. The result is impressive, Hernö Juniper Cask Gin has an herbal sweetness to start followed by more intense juniper notes and finishing with citrus peel. Cassia and pepper compliment the dominant juniper and vanilla but the oak crucially adds to a fuller mouthfeel. Perhaps because of this, the lingon berries are more prominent too, with the gin having a discernible jammy note unbeknown to the other Hernö offerings.
Read Gin Foundry's full review here: Hernö Gins