At first glance, nothing seems more different than a curated collection and a panda. One suggests carefully crafted rarity, the other evokes a kind of natural simplicity, reduced to two colors: black and white.
And yet, it is precisely by moving away from any traditional “collection” logic that Panda Gin has built one of the most distinctive series in the world of gin.
A collection that was never meant to be one
Originally, nothing suggested that the Panda Gin Colors series would become a sought-after collection.
Far from a marketing strategy built around rarity or “collectibility,” the project was born from a much simpler idea: exploring new aromatic profiles around the identity of the original Panda Gin, through small-batch releases.
As the brand explains:
“We did not anticipate the enthusiasm around the Colors series. […] It was not intended as a ‘collector’ approach, but rather as limited editions produced in small quantities.” Panda Gin
This initial positioning is key to understanding the success of the series.
Panda is not trying to create scarcity. They are focused on creating flavor.
A structured exploration of major aromatic families
Behind each Colors edition lies a clear design logic.
The series is built around the exploration of the main aromatic families of gin: fruity, floral, spicy, herbal, citrus, evolving into more complex expressions in later releases.
The brand confirms this approach:
“The concept of the Colors series is based on exploring the major aromatic families of gin […] each edition is then associated with a specific color that reflects its identity.” Panda Gin
This link between aromatic profile and visual identity gives the series a rare level of coherence.
Each bottle becomes both a gustatory variation and a visually distinctive piece.
From the very beginning, a clear diversity emerges:
- 2020 : an 2020 edition driven by bold citrus and floral notes. This first version is built on a lychee base, Panda’s signature, enriched with exotic citrus and floral botanicals, complemented by subtle herbal and spicy touches.
- 2021 : The 2021 edition explores a more spice-driven profile, where warm and structured notes add depth while maintaining a certain softness.
- 2022 : The 2022 edition ventures into more experimental territory, with a dominant herbal profile enhanced by an unexpected fruity dimension, offering a more daring interpretation of gin.
- 2023 : The 2023 edition returns to a more floral and accessible expression, delivering a more immediate profile while staying true to the brand’s identity.
- 2024 : The 2024 edition stands out with a fresher and more vibrant approach, marked by lively citrus notes and a well-balanced menthol touch.
- 2025 : Finally, the 2025 version offers a more complex interpretation, combining floral, spicy and herbal elements into a particularly dense and structured composition.
- Panda Gin – classic version
- Panda Gin Colors 2020 – black edition
- Panda Gin Colors 2021 – pink edition
- Panda Gin Colors 2022 – green edition
- Panda Gin Colors 2023 – blue edition
- Panda Gin Colors 2024 – yellow edition
- Panda Gin Colors 2025 – white edition
This progression reflects a controlled exploration, without ever breaking away from the brand’s identity.
A creation process driven by experimentation
While the series appears consistent, it is far from rigid.
Each edition is the result of an iterative process based on experimentation and refinement.
“Once the flavor direction is defined, we develop multiple recipes […] The final selection evolves over time through testing.” Panda Gin
Everything starts with an intention — fruity, floral, or spicy — which is then refined through botanical selection and the pursuit of a precise balance.
The core remains recognizable, particularly thanks to lychee, Panda Gin’s signature ingredient.
A series defined by consistency
It all began in 2020 with a first black edition, produced in just 3,000 bottles.
From this first release, the foundations were already clear: strong identity, defined profile, and refined balance.
Unlike many series that evolve gradually, Colors stands out for its consistency.
“The first edition remains iconic. Produced in only 3,000 bottles, it marked an important milestone for Panda Gin. In terms of flavor profile and visual identity, each edition has its own uniqueness, making it difficult to compare. That said, we have a particular fondness for the 2021 (pink) and 2023 (blue) editions.” Panda Gin
The series works as a succession of interpretations built on the same foundation.
When rarity creates value
It is precisely this unplanned approach that shifts the series into another dimension.
Over time, certain editions disappear from the market. Not reproduced and released in limited quantities, they gradually become difficult to find.
It is then the enthusiasts themselves who turn these bottles into sought-after objects.
“It is our customers and fans who give certain editions this special status.” Panda Gin
Gradually, some references take on a dual nature: both a tasting product and a collectible item.
A phenomenon well known in the world of spirits, but still relatively rare in gin, where few references reach this level of long-term desirability.
A conclusion designed as a final chapter
After several years of exploration, the Colors series reaches its final stage.
The final edition, released in 2025, pushes the concept toward a more complex expression, blending floral, spicy, and herbal elements with remarkable precision.
This version stands out for its aromatic richness, where the freshness of lychee and citrus meets the delicacy of jasmine, the vibrancy of hibiscus, and the depth of spices, supported by a particularly structured botanical base.
At GinToLove, this 2025 edition clearly ranks among the most remarkable in the series, both for its balance and its complexity. A success that makes the end of the collection even more impactful.
But Panda Gin goes even further in 2026, officially closing the chapter:
“The chapter officially closed in 2026 with the release of 100 ultra-collector boxes […] A page turns, making way for a new one.” Panda Gin
With only 100 sets bringing together all editions, the series definitively enters another dimension.
Why has the Colors series become iconic?
Several elements explain this unique status in the world of gin.
First, a rare coherence: each edition explores a different aromatic family while maintaining a recognizable core.
Then, a strong visual identity, where each color reflects a distinct flavor universe.
Rarity also plays a key role, but without ever being used as a marketing argument. It is a natural consequence of the creation process.
On top of that, there is a remarkable level of consistency, with no noticeable weaknesses across the series.
Finally, the controlled ending of the project, with a fully realized 2025 edition followed by a final box set in 2026, reinforces the almost narrative dimension of the whole.
| Year | Profile | Quantity | Key feature | Main ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Citrus & floral | 3 000 | First edition, now iconic | Yuzu, Buddha’s hand, lotus flower, lychee, cherry, orange, basil, rosemary, star anise |
| 2021 | Spicy & floral | 5 000 | Structured and warm profile | Tonka bean, pepper, ginger, clove, thyme, lychee |
| 2022 | Herbal & experimental | 6 000 | Most daring approach | Dill, mango, wormwood (absinthe), bergamot, lavender, lychee |
| 2023 | Floral & accessible | 8 000 | Balanced and approachable | Rose, hibiscus, apricot, lychee |
| 2024 | Citrus & minty | 9 000 | Freshness and vibrancy | Blood orange, combava, mint, cardamom, bay leaf, lychee |
| 2025 | Floral, spicy, herbal | 10 000 | Final, more complex edition | Jasmine, hibiscus, sage, cranberry, verbena, cinnamon, elderflower, citrus, lychee, bamboo, angelica |
| 2026 | Complete series | 100 | Ultimate collector item | All editions combined |
Detailed compositions also include structuring botanicals such as juniper berries, along with other secondary ingredients that contribute to the overall balance without always being highlighted in the aromatic reading.
Conclusion
The Colors series by Panda Gin was never designed to be a collection.
And that is precisely what makes it so powerful.
By focusing on aromatic exploration, coherence, and the sincerity of the project, the brand allowed a phenomenon to emerge that many try to artificially create: a genuine perceived value.
In the end, Panda did not build a collection.
They built a story that enthusiasts turned into a collection.
Article written by GinToLove, a platform dedicated to discovering gins and their creators.
Non-sponsored article.
The quoted statements come from direct exchanges with the distillery. No affiliate links are used in this article.