Hendrick's has become something of a case study in how to build a gin empire without ever losing the veneer of eccentricity. Neptunia, their coastal-inspired limited release, is another shrewd move from a brand that understands the value of seasonal intrigue. At 43.4% ABV and £38.25, it sits comfortably in that sweet spot where curious consumers will trade up from the core expression without feeling they've crossed into collector territory.
A Calculated Dive into Coastal Character
What interests me about Neptunia is the positioning. This is a gin that leans into maritime and aquatic botanicals — a deliberate nod to the sea that feels timely given the broader industry drift toward terroir-driven spirits. Everyone from Scottish island distillers to Scandinavian newcomers is chasing that coastal narrative, and Hendrick's, with its considerable marketing muscle, was never going to cede that ground quietly.
Categorised as a London Dry, Neptunia nonetheless carries the Hendrick's house signature — that unmistakable cucumber-and-rose backbone — while steering the botanical profile toward something brighter and more saline. It's a gin that wants to evoke rock pools and sea spray without abandoning the template that made the brand a back-bar staple in the first place. A balancing act, then, and one that largely succeeds.
At 7.7 out of 10, Neptunia is a polished limited edition that does exactly what it sets out to do: it gives loyal Hendrick's drinkers a reason to reach for something different while drawing in those chasing coastal character. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it didn't need to — it just needed to make the wheel interesting again.
Best Served
A long G&T with Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic and a sprig of sea rosemary or fresh dill. This is the kind of serve that moves units in cocktail bars during the warmer months — visually striking, easy to execute, and it gives bartenders a story to tell at the rail.
