Hendrick's Neptunia Gin

Following up on the Lunar tasting notes, I'm now examining Neptunia from the same collection. For context, I'm not a huge gin and tonic drinker; I prefer sours, daisies, and particularly martinis. I seldom sip gin straight, but perhaps this will change my mind. This variety was sampled neat in a glencairn after a generous resting period. This gin presents floral notes, yet it's quite distinct from the Lunar. Growing up near the New England coast, the scent of dune grasses, brine, saltgrass, and marsh elder was the immediate sensory connection I experienced when smelling the glass. The marketing might have influenced me, but that's precisely what I detected. This gin's aroma is verdant and delicately floral, with subtle pine and tartness, and a hint of citrus in my opinion. Overall, the bouquet is nicely intricate. On the palate, it's tart and bold, in a positive way. The flavor profile is built on a drier citrus foundation with juniper and spices. Rose, seaweed, cucumber, and white pepper are also present. The sweetness diminishes on the finish, which is quicker than the Lunar's. Compared to the standard Hendrix expression, this one seems a bit softer, almost watery. Neptunia makes an excellent Martini. A 4:1 ratio of gin to vermouth with a dash of orange bitters and a twist would surely bring joy. I suspect this gin would shine even brighter with a less oily vermouth, but today's focus was comparison, not refinement. I favor this expression slightly over the Lunar, though my preference might shift depending on the day or my mood. Both are excellent and differ from each other while still clearly originating from the same base spirit. I'm quite pleased to have both in my collection. I preferred both Lunar and Neptunia to the standard expression. I'm not going to hold back tonight and am giving this the same score of 3.75 as the Lunar, though I might consider splitting the difference. To my palate, this one is a bit more engaging. What I'm certain of is that I've enjoyed some really good gin this evening. These special Hendrix releases are proving to be winners.

A dry gin with a prominent juniper character and a substantial amount of citrus. Perhaps imagined, but there also appears to be a salinity that enhances the flavors, bringing them forward. After several seconds, notes of orange zest and peppercorn emerge, concluding with a nearly creamy texture. Quite enjoyable and zesty. Definitely worth trying with a high-quality tonic or, if desired, a classic martini.

Enjoyable gin. Nice, dry, juniper-forward with citrus notes. Some salty sea air qualities, hints of cucumber. Solid served on the rocks, in a gin and tonic, or in spirit-forward cocktails. Very clean and crisp.

Very intriguing flavors. Enjoyable neat, and also with tonic or soda. I feel it's a bit pricey, but I would purchase it more frequently if it weren't so expensive in comparison.

This is a dependable, widely available, and fairly priced gin. It was my preferred version compared to the original, offering a very welcome citrus note.

The aroma has coastal salt. Spices emerge on the palate, particularly pepper. It's more delicate and subtle than the original. The finish has a mild brininess.