Japanese yuzu and white strawberry set up the fruit contrast in this Whitley Neill bottling, released at 41.3% ABV in 70cl. Yuzu supplies the zest and the aromatic lift, white strawberry the softer, more delicate half of the pairing, and juniper holds both inside a recognisable gin framework.

The aroma is lively, with yuzu first and the berry just behind it. On the palate the citrus opens into mandarin, grapefruit and lemon zest with the unusual acidity that yuzu is prized for, while white strawberry rounds the middle with a gentler, almost floral fruit. The finish is long and refreshing, citrus rather than sugar, which keeps the bottle lighter than most pink fruit gins. Light spice and a faint floral note sit behind the fruit without ever taking the lead, which is part of the reason the bottle mixes as easily as it does with a plain tonic.

Whitley Neill is among the most widely distributed flavoured gin ranges in Britain, and this release sits at its more aromatic end, closer to citrus than to the berry and rhubarb recipes that made the brand a supermarket fixture. The combination of a Japanese citrus with an unusual pale strawberry is what marks it out, and it has also appeared in a limited fashion collaboration edition.

Cold matters here more than anything you add. Fill the glass with large cubes, pour 4cl, then 10cl of neutral tonic water, well chilled. A small strip of yuzu peel and half a white strawberry are enough garnish. Skip the syrups and any heavily flavoured mixer, both of which blur the difference between the two fruits, which is the whole reason the recipe exists. Frozen berries in place of a couple of cubes keep the glass cold without thinning the drink.