The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Hernö Gin

Hernö Gin

Hernö · Hernö Gin Distillery

$4080.6 proofNASHärnösand, Sweden
Jon Hillgren's Hernö is one of Sweden's most awarded gins, and the flagship London Dry demonstrates why. Organic botanicals distilled in a small copper pot still produce a gin that is traditional in structure but unmistakably Nordic in character. It is a gin that demands a proper Martini — stirred, cold, with as little interference as possible.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bright juniper — green and resinous — opens the nose, followed by coriander seed, a whisper of meadowsweet, and delicate floral notes. Lemon zest rounds it out.

Palate

Clean and precise. The juniper is front and center but polished, complemented by cassia bark warmth and a gentle peppery kick. Lingonberry undertones add a distinctive Nordic edge.

Finish

Medium length, with juniper slowly fading into a dry, slightly floral close. Refreshingly clean.

Specifications
Style
London Dry
Botanicals
Juniper, coriander, cassia bark, meadowsweet, lingonberries, lemon peel, black pepper, vanilla
Base Spirit
Organic wheat spirit
Distillation
Pot distilled in a 250-liter copper still
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Nordic Martini — 2.5 oz Hernö Gin · 0.5 oz dry vermouth · Stir with ice for 30 seconds, strain into a frozen coupe, garnish with a lemon twist.

Food Pairing

The gin's juniper and herbal brightness cuts through the rich, cured salmon, while the mustard-dill sauce echoes the gin's botanical complexity. Serve on dark rye bread.

The Story

Founded in 2011 by Jon Hillgren on the high coast of northern Sweden, Hernö became the country's first dedicated gin distillery, earning over 100 international medals and proving that world-class gin could come from above the 62nd parallel.

Train These Aromas
Comments

Be the first to comment.

Leave a comment

0 / 4,000

First-time comments are reviewed before appearing. Be kind, be specific, no spam.

More from Hernö Gin Distillery
Hernö High Coast Terroir Gin 2021 Edition
Gin

Hernö High Coast Terroir Gin 2021 Edition

Hernö

Hernö's Terroir series is the ultimate expression of climate woven into spirit. The 2021 Edition captures the unique conditions of Sweden's High Coast — a UNESCO World Heritage site still rebounding from glacial compression — where extreme seasonal light variation and subarctic maritime air produce botanicals found nowhere else. This is gin as geography, distilled proof that latitude, weather, and soil are as much ingredients as juniper and water.

$6085.4 proof
Hernö High Coast Terroir Gin 2023 Edition
Gin

Hernö High Coast Terroir Gin 2023 Edition

Hernö

Hernö has built its reputation on textbook juniper-forward gins, and this terroir-focused edition is no exception. The Swedish botanicals give it a distinctly Nordic character — clean, herbal, and slightly wild — while the distillation technique ensures every ingredient reads clearly on the palate. A gin for gin lovers.

$8586.6 proof
Hernö Navy Strength Gin
Gin

Hernö Navy Strength Gin

Hernö

Jon Hillgren built Hernö as Sweden's first dedicated gin distillery, and his navy strength expression demonstrates what happens when a perfectionist increases proof without sacrificing balance. Every botanical is amplified in proportion, making this a gin that punches through tonic or citrus in cocktails while remaining supremely drinkable on its own.

$53114 proof
Hernö Old Tom Gin
Gin

Hernö Old Tom Gin

Hernö

Hernö's Old Tom bridges the gap between dry and sweet with the precision of a watchmaker. Jon Hillgren's commitment to organic botanicals and small-batch copper-pot distillation results in a gin that feels both historical and thoroughly modern. Outstanding in a Martinez or simply on its own.

$4886 proof
More Gin Reviews
Isle of Raasay Hebridean Gin
Gin

Isle of Raasay Hebridean Gin

Isle of Raasay

Isle of Raasay Hebridean Gin is a study in clarity through constraint — a tight botanical bill drawn from the island's own terrain, distilled with disciplined intent. It proves that limitation breeds focus: every botanical earns its place, nothing competes, and the result is a gin of luminous transparency. A quiet triumph from one of Scotland's most purposeful young distilleries.

$4592 proof
New Riff Distilling Kentucky Wild Gin
Gin

New Riff Distilling Kentucky Wild Gin

New Riff Distilling

New Riff's Kentucky Wild Gin is a beautifully aerated spirit—distilled with a thoughtful openness to the botanicals' natural character. It's proof that a whiskey-focused distillery can channel that same reverence for terroir and process into a gin of real poise and clarity. A versatile, sippable gin that breathes Kentucky air.

$3494 proof
Cadenhead's Old Raj Dry Gin
Gin

Cadenhead's Old Raj Dry Gin

Cadenhead's

Old Raj is a gin of rare character—the saffron infusion turns a classic juniper-forward profile into something genuinely singular, perfect for the waning warmth of November. Its navy strength makes it a commanding presence in cocktails or neat, and its Scottish provenance from one of the oldest independent bottlers in the world lends quiet authority. A gin that feels like the last golden light before winter.

$53110 proof
Ford's Gin Officers' Reserve Navy Strength Gin
Gin

Ford's Gin Officers' Reserve Navy Strength Gin

Ford's Gin

Officers' Reserve is the rare navy strength gin that earns its extra proof through genuine complexity rather than brute force. The brief Oloroso sherry cask rest is a masterclass in restraint—adding just enough richness to elevate the classic Ford's botanical profile without obscuring it. A gin that rewards trust in the process, and in the craft of blending tradition with innovation.

$40109.4 proof