First Impressions
Adnams Copper House Pink Gin extends the Southwold brewery-distillery's gin range into the pink territory that has dominated UK gin sales in recent years. Built on the same foundation as their excellent Copper House Dry — the same German-built copper pot still, the same meticulous approach to distillation — the Pink adds hibiscus flower and a splash of raspberry to create both the colour and the fruit character. At 40%, it is bottled at full gin strength rather than the reduced ABV that some pink gins adopt.
The Distillery
The Copper House Distillery in Southwold produces this gin using six botanicals — juniper, orris root, coriander seed, cardamom, sweet orange peel, and hibiscus flower — with raspberry added for colour and additional fruit character. The hibiscus is carried over from the standard Copper House Dry, where it proved its value as a floral botanical, and here it does double duty: contributing flavour and the natural pink hue.
Tasting
The nose is vibrantly fruity. Raspberry dominates with bright, vivid berry aromas that leave no doubt about the gin's pink credentials. Underneath the fruit, the Copper House base makes its presence felt — juniper and spice providing a gin foundation that more cynical pink gins dispense with entirely.
On the palate, a refreshing burst of zingy raspberry flavour takes the lead, complementing notes of citrus juniper, orange peel zest, and fruity hibiscus. The warm botanicals — cardamom and coriander seed — bring balance and light hints of spice that prevent the fruit from becoming one-dimensional. The gin backbone is more present here than in many pink gins, and the Adnams quality is evident in the clean, well-integrated flavour.
The finish is punchy with just-sweet-enough raspberry character. It exits on a fruity, accessible note that will appeal to pink gin fans without alienating those who want some gin character in their glass.
How to Drink It
Serve with tonic and garnish with fresh mint and raspberries — the distillery's own recommendation, and it works beautifully. Fever-Tree Indian Tonic provides the structure, the mint lifts the botanicals, and the fresh raspberries connect visually and flavour-wise with the gin's fruit character.
The Bottom Line
Adnams Copper House Pink earns a 6.5 as one of the more credible entries in the pink gin category. The Copper House Dry base ensures genuine gin character, the hibiscus does meaningful botanical work rather than merely providing colour, and the raspberry fruit is natural and appealing. It does not transcend the category — it is still a pink gin, with all the fruit-forward, accessibility-focused character that implies — but within that category, Adnams' brewing precision and distilling quality set it above the supermarket competition.
