There are gins that arrive quietly, without fanfare, and yet manage to shift the way you think about what a London Dry can be. Nordés Gin is one of those spirits — a bottle that, from its distinctive white porcelain-style vessel to its unusual botanical bill, signals that something different is happening here. At 40% ABV and carrying a price tag of £38.25, it sits in that intriguing middle ground between an everyday pour and a collector's curiosity.
A Botanical Departure
What strikes you first about Nordés is not what it shares with its London Dry siblings, but where it diverges. The botanical quartet of juniper, ginger, hibiscus, and liquorice reads more like a perfumer's palette than a traditional gin recipe. Juniper provides the structural backbone — this is, after all, still a London Dry — but it shares the stage generously. Ginger brings warmth and a certain restlessness to the spirit, while hibiscus lends a floral, almost tea-like elegance. Liquorice rounds the edges, adding depth and a subtle sweetness that lingers in the imagination.
It is this interplay that makes Nordés so intriguing. Each botanical has its role, and none overwhelms the others. The result is a gin that feels considered and deliberate — a spirit built with the kind of care you associate with small-batch craft, whether or not the distillery behind it chooses to step into the spotlight.
Character and Impression
I have long believed that the best gins tell you something about where they come from or, at the very least, about the vision of the people who made them. Nordés speaks to a sensibility that values elegance over brute force, subtlety over spectacle. The hibiscus in particular gives it a personality that is rare in the London Dry category — a gentle floral signature that sets it apart on any back bar.
At 7.7 out of 10, Nordés earns its place as a genuinely distinctive gin. It does not quite reach the heights of those spirits that manage to be both revolutionary and deeply rooted in tradition, but it comes admirably close. The botanical combination is unique and well-balanced, and the overall character rewards repeated visits.
Best Served
Pour this one long, over plenty of ice, with a premium tonic and a garnish of fresh ginger and a dried hibiscus flower. Best enjoyed on a slow afternoon when the light is fading and conversation is unhurried — a gin that asks you to pay attention and rewards you when you do.
