Mandarin opens Juno Spring 2025 Seasonal Gin, then Sichuan pepper, cassia and sage take it from citrus brightness to warm spice and green herbal notes, over a juniper base. Juno distils it in New Plymouth, New Zealand, at 44% ABV. The seasonal label places it within Juno's limited-release series, where each bottling is built around a different group of flavours. Here the ingredients suggest a lively spring profile, but the gin remains anchored by juniper rather than becoming a citrus liqueur.

Citrus · Limited Edition · Spicy · Herbal

Mandarin supplies the most immediate lift, with a rounded, fragrant citrus note. Sichuan pepper introduces a gentle tingling spice, while cassia contributes a warmer, cinnamon-like direction. Sage adds a savoury herbal thread that draws the fruit and spice back toward the dry structure of gin. Juniper ties these components together with resin and berry character. The interplay is clear: citrus leads, spice follows, and the herbs give the finish shape.

On the nose, mandarin peel and juniper come forward first, followed by a leafy note from sage.

The palate begins bright and aromatic, then develops a mild peppery warmth rather than pronounced heat. Cassia rounds the middle, and the finish turns drier as juniper and herbs return. At 44% ABV, the gin has enough weight to remain noticeable in a mixed drink. Its limited seasonal format also makes the Spring 2025 name meaningful: this is a particular recipe from Juno's annual sequence, not a generic spring-flavoured spirit.

A straightforward gin and tonic keeps the ingredients legible. Pour 4.5 cl over clear ice, add 12 cl of Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water, and finish with a thin mandarin wheel and one small sage leaf. Build the drink gently so the tonic retains its sparkle, and avoid adding extra sweetener. The tonic's quinine bitterness offsets the mandarin while its neutral profile leaves room for cassia and Sichuan pepper. For a more spirit-led tasting, try a small neat pour before mixing and compare how the citrus and spice change with dilution.