The Hedgehog Gin

The aroma is very subtle; the taste is sweet, with 'oriental' spicy notes that align with the mentioned ginseng, guarana, and bergamot in the recipe. On its own, it's very approachable and smooth, with very little of the typical 'juniper' gin characteristics. When mixed with a good tonic, it unfortunately lacks punch and masks the quinine flavor. It's not a cucumber style but leans towards lime/lemon. Adding a little lime enhances it; the acidity brings out freshness and the quinine bitterness. However, the resulting G&T is still quite neutral, even with lime. I will certainly try it in a Negroni, but I anticipate the neutral-to-sweet profile will present some challenges.