Herno has built a quiet reputation among spirits enthusiasts who pay attention to Scandinavian craft distilling. Their Botanical Flavoured Gin sits in the flavoured gin category — a space that can swing wildly between innovation and gimmick. At 47% ABV, this bottling signals serious intent. That's a confident strength for a flavoured gin, well above the sugary, low-proof offerings that have flooded the market in recent years.
Style & Character
What draws me to this release is the approach. The word 'Botanical' in the name suggests the flavouring leans into plant-driven territory rather than fruit-forward sweetness. At this ABV, you'd expect the juniper backbone and any additional botanical infusions to carry real weight on the palate — nothing diluted or timid. Flavoured gins done well can be extraordinary. They take the classic gin architecture and push it somewhere unexpected, layering in new dimensions without losing the spirit's identity.
Verdict
I'm giving this a 7.6 out of 10. The strength is right, the pedigree is promising, and it occupies a category where craft producers like Herno tend to outperform the mainstream competition. It loses a point or two on the unknown — without confirmed botanical details or distillery specifics, it's harder to fully appreciate the intent behind the blend. But the bottle speaks to a producer who takes flavoured gin seriously, and at this price point it represents fair value for a well-made Scandinavian spirit.
Best Served
Try this in a highball with chilled premium tonic, a thin slice of fresh ginger, and a sprig of shiso leaf. The herbal lift of shiso — something I picked up serving gin in Tokyo — pairs beautifully with botanical-forward gins, especially at this strength. If you're feeling adventurous, swap the tonic for yuzu soda and add a crack of black pepper.
