Ninkasi Saaz Organic Hops Flowers

Ninkasi Saaz Organic Hops Flowers is produced by Ninkasi, a French brewery-distillery based in the Rhône-Alpes region, known for building bridges between the worlds of beer and spirits. This certified organic gin is distilled at the Ninkasi distillery using botanicals and processes that echo the brewery’s hop-driven identity. The expression puts Saaz hop flowers at the centre, a traditional Czech hop variety more often associated with lager brewing, here used to bring a floral and lightly bitter twist to a citrus and juniper forward gin.

The botanical recipe combines classic gin ingredients with elements drawn from both the local environment and the brewing tradition. Juniper berries provide the backbone, while Saaz hops deliver a distinctive aromatic profile. Sloe berries contribute a fruity and slightly tangy dimension, and hand-zested orange and lemon bring bright citrus character. Cardamom and coriander seeds add freshness and gentle spice, while fennel introduces an aniseed note that becomes more prominent towards the finish. All of these botanicals are sourced from organic agriculture and integrated into a distilled gin base.

Distillation takes place in a copper still that has been hand-shaped and hammered in France, following Charentais tradition. The botanicals are macerated in a neutral grain spirit before being distilled, allowing the essential oils from the hops, berries, citrus fruits and seeds to be extracted cleanly. The final distillate is brought down to 40% ABV, which offers enough structure to carry the hop and citrus aromatics while maintaining a smooth and approachable texture.

On the nose, Ninkasi Saaz Organic Hops Flowers opens with fresh citrus notes of lemon and bitter orange, quickly joined by the aromatic floral character of Saaz hops. Juniper is clearly present in the background, providing a resinous line that anchors the bouquet. Subtle hints of spice and anise appear as the gin opens up, reflecting the cardamom, coriander and fennel used in the recipe.

On the palate, the attack is marked by the floral and slightly resinous character of the hops, followed by an expressive burst of citrus where lemon and bitter and blood orange come to the fore. Juniper brings structure and a gentle pine note, while sloe berries contribute a discreet fruity depth. The spices provide lift rather than heat: cardamom emphasizes freshness, coriander adds a light peppery nuance, and fennel brings an aniseed touch that becomes more evident towards the end of the tasting. The texture is smooth and moderately dry, with a clear progression from citrus and hops towards more herbal and spicy notes.

The finish is persistent and refreshing, with lingering impressions of citrus zest, gentle hop bitterness, juniper and an aniseed echo from the fennel. The overall balance is between citrus brightness, floral hop aromatics and a clean herbal spine.

Ninkasi Saaz Organic Hops Flowers is well suited to simple, precise serves. It works particularly well in a classic gin and tonic, ideally with a neutral or lightly bitter premium tonic and a thick strip of lemon zest. It can also be enjoyed neat over ice to appreciate the interplay between hops and citrus, or used as a base in hop-accented cocktails where its floral and herbal profile can be highlighted without being masked by sweet mixers.