Hoos London Gin 200ml. Classic gin from Karlsruhe in a small bottle – juniper, pine sprouts, 44.4% ABV.
Hoos London Gin 200ml is Heiko Hoos' London Gin from Karlsruhe in a small 200ml bottle. It contains the same gin as the large bottle: 15 botanicals, 44.4% ABV, distilled in batches of 120 bottles.
London Gin 200ml by Hoos is the bottle for your first introduction. Imagine an evening with friends; on the table are three or four gins side by side, and everyone tries a sip. For a round like this, a large bottle is too much, but a small one is just right. What you get to know is a small-batch gin in the literal sense. Small batch means: small quantities per distillation run. At Hoos, it’s 120 bottles per batch, distilled slowly. Every batch is therefore created individually and in a manageable size. It is distilled according to the London Gin method, where all aromas from the distillation process originate from plants.
Taste
The gin in the small bottle tastes like the forest and meadows. Strong juniper comes first, followed by resinous pine sprouts. Lavender and chamomile flowers provide a floral, slightly hay-like aspect. The producer summarizes this in one sentence: "A gin like a walk in the forest."
Underneath that, the spices work their magic. Cubeb pepper brings a peppery sharpness, while nutmeg blossom and cardamom seeds provide a warm spice. Coriander, marjoram, and sweet fennel lie in the middle. Lemon balm, orange blossoms, and lemon and orange peel add freshness and keep the gin bright. Angelica binds the aromas together.
With 44.4% ABV, the gin has strength; juniper and resin linger long on the finish. Anyone looking for a sweet fruit gin will find this too dry. This gin is dry and herb-focused; the fruit comes only from the citrus peels.
Usage
The 200ml bottle is enough for several gin and tonics, about four depending on the recipe. For the classic long drink, use a dry tonic water, a large glass, and plenty of ice. A strip of orange peel or a sprig of rosemary goes well with the herbs in the gin. Lemon also works, which makes the drink seem a bit sharper.
For a small tasting, pour the gin neat first into a nosing or small wine glass. Smell it first, then take a small sip. Afterward, add a drop of water; this opens up the herbs. If you place it next to other gins, the forest note stands out particularly well. The bottle is also well-suited for a martini in a small group.
Regarding labeling: Sale only to persons 18 years or older. The manufacturer does not publish information on allergens; please check the label on the bottle.
Our tip: Give the small bottle as a gift together with a good tonic water. It’s a gift that can be tried out immediately.
Origin
The gin is made in Karlsruhe from 15 fresh and dried herbs. Heiko Hoos distills according to the traditional London Gin method and takes his time doing it. The batches remain small; there are 120 bottles per run. It is bottled at 44.4% ABV.
Hoos is deliberately frugal with packaging. The bottles are simple and dark; according to the producer, effort and love should flow into the product rather than into marketing and design. The small bottle wears the same simple face as the large one. Heiko Hoos has been distilling his own gin since 2013—honest and with powerful juniper, as he calls it.
For whom
The small bottle is for anyone who wants to get to know a gin before putting a large one on their shelf. It fits gin tastings with friends, as a small gift, or in a gift basket. If you like the gin, there is the London Gin in the 500ml bottle. As a fruity-tart sister in the same size, there is the Pink Grapefruit Gin Liqueur 200ml. You can read more about the distiller on our Hoos page. The small bottle is less suitable if you regularly mix for larger groups—in that case, the large one is worth it.
The same forest gin, just smaller – the London Gin from Karlsruhe in 200ml for tasting and gifting.
