The world of premium gin has exploded in recent years, with distillers pushing boundaries and exploring new botanical frontiers. Among these innovators, Hendrick’s has consistently stood out with its distinctive approach to gin-making. Their limited edition Hendrick’s Amazonia represents one of their most ambitious ventures yet – a spirit that promises to transport drinkers to the lush rainforests of South America through taste alone. After spending several weeks with this intriguing bottle, I’m ready to share whether this jungle-inspired gin lives up to its exotic promises.
The Story Behind Hendrick’s Amazonia
Hendrick’s Amazonia isn’t just another flavored gin – it’s the culmination of Master Distiller Lesley Gracie’s expedition to the Venezuelan Amazon. Inspired by the biodiversity of the rainforest, Gracie spent time with botanical experts, exploring the region’s unique flora. The result is a gin that aims to capture the essence of one of Earth’s most precious ecosystems while supporting conservation efforts through a partnership with The Amazon Environmental Research Institute.
Initially released as a travel retail exclusive in 2020, Amazonia has gradually become more widely available, though it remains a limited edition offering. For each bottle sold, Hendrick’s contributes to rainforest conservation projects – adding an ethical dimension to your drinking experience.
Master Distiller’s Vision
Lesley Gracie, the mastermind behind Hendrick’s distinctive flavor profiles, has always been known for her experimental approach. With Amazonia, she sought to create a gin that would evoke the sensory experience of standing in the rainforest – the humidity, the lushness, and the complex aromas of vegetation. Rather than simply adding tropical fruit flavors (a route many distillers might have taken), Gracie focused on capturing the essence of the forest itself.
According to Hendrick’s, Gracie returned from her expedition with notebooks full of botanical ideas and spent months perfecting the formula. The goal wasn’t to create something that tasted “tropical” in a conventional sense, but rather to offer gin enthusiasts a more nuanced interpretation of the Amazon’s botanical treasures.
Bottle Design and Presentation
Before we even get to the liquid inside, Hendrick’s Amazonia makes a statement with its packaging. The iconic Hendrick’s apothecary-style bottle gets a verdant makeover, with emerald green accents replacing the traditional dark blue. The label features intricate illustrations of rainforest flora and fauna, with golden details that catch the light beautifully.
The bottle is topped with the familiar Hendrick’s cork stopper, maintaining brand consistency while the new color scheme signals its special edition status. It’s a bottle that demands to be displayed rather than hidden away in a cabinet – a conversation piece that elevates any home bar setup.
Sustainability Credentials
In keeping with its rainforest preservation theme, Hendrick’s has ensured that the packaging for Amazonia emphasizes sustainability. The box is made from recycled materials and uses vegetable-based inks. It’s a thoughtful touch that aligns with the conservation message behind the product, though I would have liked to see them go even further with eco-friendly packaging innovations.
Gift Appeal
With its striking appearance and limited edition status, Amazonia makes an excellent gift for gin enthusiasts. The storytelling aspect – a gin inspired by the Amazon rainforest – provides a ready-made conversation starter when presenting it to friends or family. At around $45-55 depending on your location, it sits at a premium but accessible price point for special occasions.
Tasting Notes: The Botanical Profile
Now to the most important part – how does Hendrick’s Amazonia actually taste? The base remains the classic Hendrick’s gin, with its signature infusions of cucumber and rose. To this familiar foundation, Gracie has added a selection of botanicals inspired by her Amazon expedition.
On the nose, Amazonia offers an immediate freshness with bright citrus notes that seem more complex and verdant than the standard Hendrick’s. There’s a distinctive tropical character – not sweet or fruity, but rather green and vibrant, evoking the humidity of the rainforest. The cucumber note that Hendrick’s is famous for seems amplified here, complemented by something that reminds me of fresh green leaves after rainfall.
Flavor Journey
The first sip reveals Amazonia to be unmistakably Hendrick’s in its DNA, but with a fascinating evolution. The initial taste brings forward juniper and citrus, followed by a mid-palate that introduces exotic floral notes and something akin to fresh herbs. The finish is where Amazonia truly distinguishes itself from the original – longer, with a subtle earthiness and a hint of something that reminds me of fresh green tea.
While Hendrick’s doesn’t disclose the exact botanical additions, there are hints of tropical flora that gin connoisseurs will notice immediately. There’s a quality that suggests fresh vegetation rather than dried botanicals – a vibrancy that feels genuinely evocative of a rainforest environment. The overall effect is refreshing and complex without becoming overwhelming or gimmicky.
Comparative Analysis
Compared to standard Hendrick’s, Amazonia is more lush and complex, with enhanced green notes and a more pronounced floral character. It’s less peppery than Hendrick’s Orbium and less overtly floral than their Midsummer Solstice edition. If you enjoy the cucumber freshness of regular Hendrick’s, you’ll find that aspect amplified here, but with additional layers that make it a more contemplative sipping experience.
At 43.4% ABV (the same as standard Hendrick’s), it carries its flavors well without overwhelming alcohol heat. The mouthfeel is smooth and slightly oily, coating the palate pleasantly and allowing the botanical complexity to develop fully.
Cocktail Applications
While Amazonia is certainly enjoyable neat or over ice, gin ultimately shines brightest in cocktails. After experimenting with this bottle across various recipes, I’ve found it performs exceptionally well in certain applications while being less suitable for others.
Gin & Tonic Perfection
Amazonia makes a spectacular G&T, especially when paired with a premium tonic water that doesn’t overwhelm its subtle botanical notes. I found Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic to be an ideal partner, allowing the gin’s unique character to shine through. A garnish of cucumber enhances the gin’s fresh qualities, while a sprig of mint brings out some of the more verdant notes. For a more tropical presentation, a slice of starfruit works beautifully both visually and flavor-wise.
The resulting G&T has a remarkable freshness and complexity that evolves as the ice melts, revealing different aspects of the gin’s profile. It’s the kind of drink that makes you pause and pay attention rather than simply refreshing the palate.
Beyond the G&T
In a Martini, Amazonia creates a more complex, aromatic experience than standard Hendrick’s. I prefer it with a light whisper of dry vermouth and a lemon twist rather than an olive, which would compete with its botanical subtleties. For something truly special, try an Amazonia Martini with a small splash of Chartreuse – the herbal notes play wonderfully together.
Where Amazonia really surprised me was in a Negroni. The gin’s complex profile stands up beautifully to Campari and sweet vermouth, creating a Negroni with additional layers of botanical interest. The rainforest-inspired notes add a fascinating dimension to this classic cocktail, making it feel both familiar and new simultaneously.
One cocktail where I found Amazonia less successful was the Aviation – its subtle complexities got somewhat lost among the maraschino and crème de violette. Similarly, in very citrus-forward drinks like the Southside, some of its more interesting notes were overwhelmed.
Value Proposition and Availability
At approximately $45-55 per 750ml bottle, Hendrick’s Amazonia commands a premium over the standard Hendrick’s (typically around $35-40). The question is whether this price difference is justified by what’s in the bottle.
For gin enthusiasts and Hendrick’s fans, I believe the premium is warranted. You’re getting a genuinely different expression with thoughtful botanical additions that create a distinctive drinking experience. The conservation angle adds value for the environmentally conscious, knowing that purchases support rainforest protection efforts.
Limited Edition Considerations
As a limited edition release, Amazonia may not be permanently available. This creates both an opportunity and a challenge for consumers. On one hand, it’s a chance to experience something unique that may not be around forever. On the other, if you fall in love with it, you might find yourself hoarding bottles or searching for replacements when supplies run dry.
Availability varies by market, with some regions seeing more consistent stock than others. In the United States, it has become more widely available in specialized liquor stores and premium retailers, though it can still require some hunting. Online retailers often carry it, though shipping restrictions for alcohol vary by state.
Final Verdict
Hendrick’s Amazonia succeeds in its ambitious goal of capturing something of the Amazon’s essence in a gin bottle. It manages to be both recognizably Hendrick’s and distinctively its own creation – no small feat in today’s crowded gin market. The botanical additions feel purposeful rather than gimmicky, creating a gin that rewards thoughtful sipping and creative cocktail applications.
For collectors and gin enthusiasts, it’s an easy recommendation – a limited edition with genuine character differences from the standard offering. For casual gin drinkers, the premium price point requires more consideration, but those who appreciate Hendrick’s cucumber-forward style will likely find the additional complexity worth exploring.
In a market flooded with flavored gins that often rely on sweetness or obvious fruit notes, Hendrick’s Amazonia takes a more sophisticated approach, focusing on the green, vibrant, and atmospheric qualities of its rainforest inspiration. It’s this subtlety and commitment to the craft that makes it stand out as one of the more successful limited editions in the premium gin category. Whether you’re sipping it in a perfectly made G&T or exploring its potential in more complex cocktails, Amazonia offers a botanical adventure that lives up to its evocative name.
