Pink gins have flooded the market over the past few years, and separating the genuinely interesting from the merely Instagram-friendly takes work. Mermaid Pink Gin sits in that crowded flavoured category at 38% ABV — a touch below the strength I usually prefer, but not uncommon for this style.
Style & Character
Mermaid as a brand has built a reputation around coastal identity, and their pink expression leans into that playful, approachable positioning. At £42.50, it sits at a premium price point for a flavoured gin, which means it needs to deliver more than just colour in the glass. Flavoured gins live or die by balance — the best ones use fruit or botanical infusions to complement the juniper backbone rather than bury it entirely.
The Verdict
I came to this bottle with cautious optimism. The flavoured gin category is one where craft and gimmick sit uncomfortably close together, and price alone doesn't guarantee substance. What I will say is that Mermaid Pink Gin carries itself with enough confidence to suggest there is thought behind the recipe. It doesn't feel like an afterthought bolted onto the core range.
At 38% ABV, it is clearly designed for easy drinking — long serves, spritzes, lighter cocktails. That lower strength can work in the gin's favour when you are not asking it to punch through heavy mixers. I would have liked confirmed details on the botanical bill, because transparency matters at this price bracket. A solid, if not spectacular, entry in a very competitive field.
Best Served
Over ice with a premium elderflower tonic, a wheel of pink grapefruit, and a sprig of shiso leaf. The herbaceous, slightly peppery shiso lifts pink gins beautifully — a trick I picked up at a bar in Shibuya that has stuck with me ever since.
