First Impressions
Hemp was outlawed in the UK in 1928 — and when it was reintroduced in 2018, Ambary Spirits was among the first to explore its potential as a gin botanical. The hemp leaves (containing no THC or CBD) are infused into a gin base of juniper, lemon peel, and pink peppercorn. The result is a gin with an earthy, grassy flavour profile that is genuinely unique in the category.
Tasting
Hemp leaf, juniper, lemon peel, and pink peppercorn. The nose is complex and earthy — the hemp adding a grassy, herbal quality with juniper underneath. On the palate at 40%, rich and balanced: the earthiness of hemp is complemented by herbal and floral character, pink peppercorn adds gentle heat, and lemon peel provides citrus brightness. The finish is herbal and earthy with the hemp's grassy character persisting gently.
The Bottom Line
Ambary Hemp-Infused earns a 7 — a gin that uses a genuinely novel botanical to create a flavour profile unavailable anywhere else. The hemp provides earthiness and grassiness that no herb or spice can replicate. No psychoactive effects — just interesting flavour. Best in a G&T with cucumber tonic where the green notes amplify, or neat for the full hemp experience. At £35, a piece of UK botanical history.