Hernö Old Tom Gin takes the organic base of Hernö Dry Gin and gives it a softer, rounder Old Tom profile. The recipe keeps the distillery’s familiar botanicals - juniper, coriander, lemon peel, lingonberries, meadowsweet, black pepper, cassia and vanilla - while adding more meadowsweet and a light sweetening. The result is not a heavy sweet gin. It remains clearly led by juniper and citrus, with the sweetness used to widen the texture rather than cover the botanicals.

The nose opens with juniper, lemon peel and a floral note from meadowsweet. Coriander adds a dry citrus spice, lingonberry brings a faint red-fruit brightness, and black pepper gives a clean lift. On the palate, the Old Tom style appears through a gentle roundness. Vanilla and the lightly sweetened finish soften the attack, but cassia and pepper keep the profile from becoming syrupy. The best part of the gin is this balance between softness and precision: it feels more generous than Hernö Dry Gin, yet it still behaves like a serious gin.

Hernö Old Tom Gin has useful cocktail value because Old Tom was historically important in drinks such as the Tom Collins and the Martinez. In a Collins, lemon and soda keep the floral sweetness fresh. In a Martinez, sweet vermouth can meet the meadowsweet and vanilla without overwhelming the juniper. A gin and tonic also works when the tonic is dry and the garnish is simple. Lemon peel is the safest choice, while a small orange peel can be used when a warmer citrus note is wanted.

The 2025 World Gin Awards recognition as World’s Best Old Tom Gin gives this bottle an additional reason to be featured, but the tasting profile is strong enough without leaning only on the medal. It is a modern organic Old Tom for drinkers who want a little more body than a London Dry, without losing the clean botanical line that defines Hernö.