First Impressions
Hensol Castle Strawberry & Hibiscus Gin takes the castle distillery's award-winning Welsh dry gin — itself a Gold winner at The Spirits Business Awards — and adds wild strawberries and hibiscus flower for a pink expression. Silver at the 2022 London Spirits Competition confirms the quality. Crucially, this is not an overly sweet liqueur-style gin but a dry gin subtly flavoured with strawberry — the hibiscus adding tartness that keeps things balanced.
Tasting
The nose presents piney juniper with strawberry sweetness and waves of citrus — fresh meadow aromas balanced by the tartness of hibiscus, elevating flavours of cranberry and pomegranate. On the palate, the gin is rich and complex, with wild strawberry and hibiscus working over the juniper-forward Welsh dry base. The finish carries distinctive tart hibiscus — dry and refreshing rather than sticky sweet.
The Bottom Line
Hensol Castle Strawberry & Hibiscus earns a 7 for maintaining the castle gin's quality while adding a pink dimension that avoids the sugary trap. The hibiscus tartness is key — it prevents the strawberry from overwhelming the gin character. Silver at London Spirits Competition 2022 confirms the approach works. At around £32, a pink gin from a 17th-century castle. Welsh history in pink.
