First Impressions
Sông Cái is Vietnam's first ever gin — sixteen indigenous botanicals including Mắc Mật berries, Mắc Khén jungle pepper, Diễn pomelo, Đia Siêu wood, green turmeric and smokey black cardamom. A Craft Gin Club Gin of the Month that introduced many to Vietnamese craft spirits for the first time.
Tasting
The nose shows fresh pine with citrus, leafy notes and smokey black cardamom. On the palate, beautifully honeyed pomelo citrus with jungle pepper developing warmth — Mắc Mật adding unique fruit, juniper supporting. The finish is a riptide of cardamom spice with warm wood and soft tannins lingering long.
The Bottom Line
Sông Cái earns an 8 for Vietnam's most important spirits export. The sixteen indigenous botanicals create something entirely new in gin — the smokey black cardamom, Đia Siêu wood and jungle pepper are found in no other gin globally. The honeyed pomelo citrus bridges Vietnamese and European gin traditions beautifully. A landmark gin from Southeast Asia.
