Hernö Juniper Cask Gin
Hernö · Hernö Gin Distillery
Hernö's Juniper Cask is a gin that uses wood to amplify rather than mask its botanicals. The juniper wood barrels concentrate the spirit's core identity instead of pulling it toward whisky territory. It's a masterclass in restraint, and the best argument for cask-rested gin this side of genever.
Nose
Juniper leads immediately — resinous, piney, and deeply aromatic — followed by coriander seed and a citrus brightness of lemon zest. The juniper wood cask imparts a gentle woody warmth and a whisper of vanilla underneath.
Palate
Rich and textured, with layers of juniper in all its forms: green, resinous, and woody. Meadowsweet and cassia bark provide floral and spiced complexity, while the brief cask resting adds a rounded, almost creamy quality. Lingonberry-like tartness emerges late.
Finish
Medium-long and warming, with juniper pine and a gentle peppery heat that refuses to quit.
- Style
- Cask-Aged Dry Gin
- Botanicals
- Juniper, coriander, cassia bark, meadowsweet, lingonberries, vanilla, lemon peel, black pepper
- Base Spirit
- Organic wheat spirit
- Distillation
- Single-shot distillation in a 250-liter copper pot still, rested in juniper wood casks
Cocktail Suggestion
Smoke & Tonic — 2 oz Hernö Juniper Cask Gin · 4 oz smoked tonic water · Build over ice in a highball glass. Garnish with a charred rosemary sprig and a grapefruit wedge.
Food Pairing
Gravlax with juniper-infused mustard sauce
Founded in 2012 by Jon Hillgren in the small coastal city of Härnösand, Hernö is Scandinavia's first dedicated gin distillery, resting its spirit in bespoke juniper wood casks sourced from northern Swedish forests.
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