Hendricks Oasium Limited Release Gin

Hendrick's Master Distiller Lesley Gracie was inspired to create this latest entry in her "Cabinet of Curiosities" while participating in a game of Camel Polo (!), as one does. Taking a thematic page from the idea of a desert oasis, she began to experiment in distillations and infusions of various aromatic herbs and bright tropical fruits. Though the brand is cagey about divulging specific botanical information, there is certainly a bend toward the fruity, if not quite as round and sweet as some previous iterations. On the nose, papaya, guava, pineapple, cooked banana, and sharp grapefruit peel greet you, along with floral hints of elderflower and rose. The palate is bold with orange marmalade, peach, a hint of juniper, and then more bright tropical fruit. Citrus, grapefruit especially, hit on the midpalate, leading to a finish that gets a bit greener, with tarragon, a touch of white pepper, but still more grapefruit whispering on the tail end. Fruity and lush, to be sure, but with some nice surprises throughout to add interesting balance. Curioser and curioser...