Humdinger Ugli Gin

Humdinger Ugli Gin is a limited release from the distillery's summer citrus series, built around ugli fruit. The 40% gin comes from Geraldine Distillery in New Zealand, where the small-batchSmall batchProduction in small quantities per distillation run, often in a small still. The term has no legal definition.Glossary range is developed around botanicals chosen for their flavour. Ugli fruit gives this release its distinctive identity: the producer describes it as lively and tropical, with a tangy, juicy citrus character and a gentle fruitiness. Juniper remains the familiar gin note beneath the fruit, keeping the result connected to the spirit's botanical base rather than turning it into a fruit liqueur.

Citrus · Limited Edition · Fruity

The aroma is bright and ripe, with citrus first and a softer tropical impression behind it.

On the palate, the fruit feels juicy and rounded, then a sharper citrus edge brings the taste back into focus. The juniper supplies a dry, lightly resinousResinousAn aroma reminiscent of pine or fir resin. It is juniper's signature, due to compounds such as pinene.Glossary counterpoint, so the fruit does not dominate from beginning to end. The finish is refreshing and easy to read, with citrus lingering longer than sweetness. This balance makes the gin suited to a highballHighballA long drink served in a tall, straight glass with plenty of ice: a spirit topped with soda or tonic. The word also names the glass.Glossary: carbonation lifts its fruit, while a measured mixer leaves room for the botanical side.

Released as part of a limited summer series, the gin is now marked sold out by the distillery. Its 500 ml bottle and 40% strength place it alongside other small-batch Humdinger releases, but the ugli fruit gives it a clear point of difference from the distillery's Gisborne Citrus Gin and Rangpur Lime Gin. Those recipes focus on oranges and lemons or lime and mandarin; this one centres on the distinctive ugli citrus fruit. That distinction matters when mixing as well: a fresh citrus garnish complements the fruit without suggesting that the recipes are interchangeable.

For a long drink, fill a balloon glassCopa glassA large stemmed balloon glass, popularised by the Spanish gin and tonic: it stays cold for longer and gathers the aromas above the drink.Glossary with clear iceClear iceIce without air bubbles, made by slow, directional freezing. Denser, it melts more slowly and dilutes less.Glossary, pour 5 cl of Ugli Gin and 10 cl of Galvanina Yellow Grapefruit Tonic, then stir once. Add a small wedge of ugli fruit and a narrow orange peel to the drink. The tonic supplies a dry grapefruit note that sharpens the tropical citrus, while the peel releases fresh oils without adding juice. Keep the drink cold and avoid syrup or sweet lemonade, which would obscure the difference between the gin's juicy fruit and its dry juniper base. A simple soda highball also works when a lighter, less bitter finish is preferred.