Hendrick's Lunar Gin

Visited the local liquor store and acquired a few items, including bottles of Hendrix Lunar and Hendrix Neptunia. I will be comparing both to the standard Hendrix offering and gin in general. For context, I seldom drink G&Ts. Gin and juice? Yes, always with fresh juice. Gin Martinis? Absolutely, they're vital in my home. My partner and I enjoy a Martini most days, though I'm also content with a Rob Roy or Manhattan variation. Gin neat? Never, unless I'm tasting. Gin on the rocks? Occasionally. This expression was tasted neat from a glencairn glass after a suitable resting period. The aroma is floral, reminiscent of a mixed bouquet from an exceptional florist. The floral notes are grounded by an alcohol-based perfume, though the ethanol's harshness is considerably subdued. I detect lavender, rose hips, chamomile, and hints of bergamot. It suggests a potpourri candy bar, with an underlying sweetness balancing a complex blend of flowers and spices. Compared to the standard Hendrix expression, this is simultaneously more intensely fragrant and notably more complex. Hendrix smells like a sweet London Dry; the Lunar evokes a lush summer garden at night. Highly impressive if that's your preference (which fortunately, it is mine). On the palate, the complexity persists, but the profile shifts towards greener notes, with cucumber skins atop a subtle, sweet green pepper essence. Citrus is prominent without dominating. The juniper is forward enough for a Martini enthusiast without being lost in the vermouth. It's a sweet sipper, with a slight peppery note and a gentle fade into something resembling cilantro or fresh parsley. The finish is sweet, warm, and clean. In a Martini (4:1 ratio) using Martini & Rossi dry vermouth (not my favorite, but my partner's preferred choice and a staple in our home), the vegetal elements become more pronounced. It tastes of garden plants, cut flowers, juniper, and honeysuckle. Quite complex and refreshing, though not as bracing as a Citadelle or Bombay Sapphire (our usual choices). This makes a fine Martini! This expression is slightly sweeter than the standard bottling and lacks the faint tartness I sometimes notice in standard Hendrix. The ethanol is also less assertive, rendering it creamier, smoother, and more approachable. Well done! This is a genuinely good gin. For under $40, it offers reasonable value, and I find it superior for Martinis compared to Nolet's Silver gin, for example. I'd consider it highly competitive with Drumshanbo Irish Gunpowder, yet distinct enough that a gin aficionado would likely desire both (I do). This is clearly a very good product, significantly above average. Not quite Monkey 47 quality, but not outshone by that comparison either. I like this a great deal. I intend to explore these special Hendrix releases. They are performing consistently well, are affordably priced, and readily available in my area. If an average mass-market release scores a 2.5 on a 5-point scale (e.g., Tanqueray, Gordon's), this merits at least a full point or more increase. However, it doesn't quite reach the extraordinary level (4.0). I rated Citadelle a 3.5 (excellent value for a juniper-forward London Dry), and this is slightly better, albeit quite different. It deviates from the conventional path, offering a unique experience for enthusiasts. I'm awarding this a generous 3.75, though I suspect Neptunia might surpass it, perhaps influenced by the three drinks I've had making me feel generous. So be it. 3.75 it is.

More great stuff from Hendricks, a top-notch gin producer. I'm trying to figure out the precise differences between this and Midsummer Solstice. They are quite similar, as you'll discover much of the same aromatic botanicals in Lunar that are present in Midsummers. First and most apparent is the much milder berry flavors; they don't stand out like the upfront tartness and blueberries in Midsummers. Lunar also offers spicy pepper notes that are less prominent in Midsummers; it's a bit drier while still delivering a nice selection of herbal notes. I realize this might be less useful for those who haven't sampled or at least read reviews of Hendricks' Midsummers gin, but their similarities make a comparison quite relevant. If you really enjoyed the berry-forward Midsummers, like I did, you might appreciate Lunar a bit less, whereas if you prefer a drier, spicier gin, you will likely find Lunar more appealing than Midsummers. I'll end up scoring them about the same since they both offer many gin characteristics I enjoy and avoid the pitfall of overemphasizing juniper and anise. Another successful effort by Hendricks on yet another limited special release. Cheers!

Rating: 17/23 Nose: Sweet creek water with citrus notes (lemon, orange), mild juniper, coriander, and old books. Palate: Sweet with citrus and spices. Clean creek water, lemon, orange peel, juniper, black pepper, coriander. I do detect some of the old book flavor from the nose, but it's not quite the water-damaged, fishy taste that makes Sipsmith so unpleasant. It's a little grainy at times, but not harsh. An occasional hint of woody spice is present too, but it's faint. The balance is good here and it's an enjoyable sip. It makes me think of Nolet's combined with Sipsmith and Monkey 47. Finish: The grain, some prickly spice, and a general sweet smoothness remain. Conclusion: This is more balanced and complex than Nolet's Silver. It's still floral and fruity, but it's less sweet. Between the two, I find this one more appealing. I appreciate Nolet's boldness and its generally fun character, but it's too perfumey. On the other hand, Monkey 47 is richer, fuller, and more complex than this is. I would definitely prefer Monkey 47 over this. I somewhat wish this was a bit less soft and sweet, but I really appreciate the elegance and smoothness here. I'm considering a 16 or 17.

A bourbon enthusiast's foray into gin: Part 3. Previous: Copperworks New Oak Cask Finished Gin (Release No. 030). Next: Bols Genever (1/4/25). My experience with gin is limited, and it's been ages since I last tried one. I'm not familiar with the terminology or flavor profiles typically used for gin. This is a bourbon fan exploring gin. I owe thanks to a friend for this sample! Smell: pine, lemon, dust, peaches. Taste: lemon, peaches, cream. Aftertaste: orange, chocolate, more peach, a bit of pine. Absolutely amazing! This is my top gin so far. It's incredibly creamy and peachy. Delightful.

Really enjoyable, light gin, excellent with a cucumber slice in a G&T or served neat. I like it much more than Orbium and would be interested in trying other Hendrick's varieties to compare. However, Lunar surpasses the standard Hendrick's, particularly for those who dislike floral gins and prefer drier drinks.

I anticipated more heat from this, but was pleasantly surprised. It has a very light flavor and mouthfeel, yet I definitely detect a hint of berry in the finish. My mouth felt numb after a few straight drinks.