Hernö Smoke Gin
Hernö · Hernö Gin Distillery
Hernö demonstrates that smoke can be a gin botanical rather than just a whiskey trait. The birch-smoked juniper concept sounds like a gimmick but works precisely because the distillery treats it with the same precision they apply to their core range. This is a gin that opens up new cocktail territory without abandoning classical structure.
Nose
An immediate hit of juniper berry gives way to clean wood smoke and coriander seed. Behind the smoke, there's a soft lemon verbena quality and a hint of meadowsweet. The smoke integrates rather than dominates — think smoldering birch, not bonfire.
Palate
Silky and medium-bodied, with juniper leading confidently into cracked black pepper and cassia bark warmth. The smoked element arrives mid-palate as a savory undercurrent, complemented by angelica root's dry, earthy quality. Fresh citrus keeps things balanced.
Finish
Medium-long, with lingering juniper resin, a trail of white pepper, and the faintest echo of campfire smoke.
- Style
- Smoked Dry Gin
- Botanicals
- Birch-smoked juniper, coriander, cassia bark, meadowsweet, lingonberry, black pepper, lemon peel, angelica root
- Base Spirit
- Organic wheat spirit
- Distillation
- Distilled in a 250-liter copper pot still with a carter head
Cocktail Suggestion
Smoke Signal Collins — 2 oz Hernö Smoke Gin · 1 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.75 oz simple syrup · 2 oz chilled soda water · Build in a tall glass over ice, stir gently, garnish with a lemon wheel and a sprig of thyme.
Food Pairing
The gin's birch smoke and juniper echo the cured salmon's smokiness, while its citrus brightness cuts through the fish's rich, oily texture for a clean Nordic pairing.
Jon Hillgren founded Hernö Gin in a former sawmill on Sweden's High Coast in 2012, and the distillery has since become one of Europe's most decorated small-batch gin producers.
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