There are gins that play it safe, and then there are gins that ask you to rethink what juniper-led spirits can be. Audemus Pink Pepper Gin sits firmly in the latter camp. At 44% ABV and built around an unconventional lead botanical — pink peppercorns — this is a London Dry that respects tradition while quietly subverting it, and I find that balance genuinely exciting.
A Study in Spice and Restraint
What fascinates me about the botanical bill here is how considered it is. Pink peppercorns aren't actually pepper at all — they're the dried berries of the Schinus molle tree, and they bring a fragrant, almost floral warmth that's worlds apart from the sharp bite of black pepper. Pair that with cardamom, which contributes its own complex sweetness and eucalyptus-like lift, and you've got a spice-driven profile that's layered rather than aggressive. Juniper is present to anchor everything in recognisably gin territory, while local honey adds a subtle roundness that I suspect helps knit the more volatile aromatic compounds together during distillation.
This is the kind of botanical combination that tells you the maker understands extraction. Getting pink peppercorns right is no small feat — push them too hard and you end up with a harsh, vegetal bitterness; handle them delicately and you unlock that gorgeous rosy spice that makes them so prized in fine dining. The inclusion of honey as a botanical rather than a sweetener suggests a thoughtful approach to texture and mouthfeel, something I always appreciate in a craft spirit.
Best Served
For me, this gin is begging to be mixed into a French 75. The spice profile from the pink peppercorns and cardamom will sing against the bright acidity of fresh lemon juice and the effervescence of good champagne or crémant. I'd shake 50ml of the Pink Pepper Gin with 20ml lemon juice and 15ml simple syrup, strain into a chilled flute, and top with fizz. Garnish with a single pink peppercorn floated on top and a small twist of grapefruit zest — that citrus oil will bridge beautifully with the cardamom. If you prefer something longer, a simple serve over good ice with a premium Indian tonic, a wedge of pink grapefruit, and a few lightly crushed pink peppercorns makes for a stunning G&T that genuinely stops conversation.
At £39.95, Audemus Pink Pepper Gin sits at a price point that reflects its ambition. I'm scoring it 7.5 out of 10 — it's a well-conceived, characterful gin that offers something genuinely different on the shelf. The botanical selection is intelligent and the concept is executed with obvious care. This is a bottle for the curious drinker, the one who wants their gin to start a conversation rather than fade into the background.
