Hernö Navy Strength Gin
Hernö · Hernö Gin Distillery
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.
Nose
A potent wave of juniper — resinous and pine-forward — leads, followed by bright lemon citrus and a warm undercurrent of cassia bark. Meadowsweet and coriander add a floral-herbal complexity behind the juniper wall.
Palate
Intensely juniper-driven but never aggressive. The higher proof amplifies the botanicals rather than the ethanol, with lingonberry-like fruitiness emerging at midpalate alongside cracked black pepper. Coriander and lemon maintain freshness, while a subtle vanilla sweetness rounds the edges.
Finish
Long and warming, with juniper lingering alongside cassia spice and a clean, dry peppery close.
- Style
- Navy Strength
- Botanicals
- Juniper, coriander, cassia bark, lemon peel, meadowsweet, black pepper, lingonberry, vanilla
- Base Spirit
- Organic wheat spirit
- Distillation
- Distilled in a custom 250-liter copper pot still named Kierstin
Cocktail Suggestion
Nordic Gimlet — 2 oz Hernö Navy Strength · 0.75 oz fresh lime juice · 0.75 oz lingonberry cordial · Shake hard with ice, fine strain into a chilled coupe, garnish with a lime wheel.
Food Pairing
Gravlax with mustard-dill sauce
Jon Hillgren left the restaurant industry to build a tiny distillery on Sweden's High Coast, making Hernö the country's first dedicated gin producer and quickly earning a reputation for meticulous botanical sourcing.
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