Sông Cái Vietnam Dry Gin (70cl, 45%)

This is a Vietnamese dry gin from Sông Cái Distillery in Hanoi, bottled at 45% in a 70cl bottle. The base is a neutral spirit made from rice and molasses. Juniper from Macedonia sits alongside local botanicals gathered with highland mountain communities, including mác mật fruit, mắc khén (Indian prickly ash), bưởi diễn pomelo and cinnamon bark. The botanicals are grouped by character, macerated, distilled separately in direct-fire copper alembic pot stills and then blended. The nose is piney and citrusy, with cinnamon, star anise, tangerine and lime peel. On the palate the mác mật echoes with black peppercorn, rosewater and grapefruit. The finish is vibrant and piquant, with fresh ginger and prickly ash.