There's something genuinely exciting about discovering a gin that takes a classic framework and threads through an unexpected regional ingredient. Waiheke Red Ruby Gin does precisely that — it's built on the reliable foundation of a London Dry, bottled at a very approachable 42% ABV, but it's the inclusion of New Zealand cherries as a defining botanical that immediately sets it apart from the crowd.
Style & Botanical Character
What fascinates me about this gin is the interplay between tradition and locality. London Dry as a category demands that all flavour comes from the distillation process itself — nothing is added post-distillation. That means those New Zealand cherries aren't simply infused for colour or sweetness; their character has to survive the heat of the still and emerge as something more subtle, more integrated. It's a genuine test of the distiller's craft, and the botanical bill here suggests they've thought carefully about balance. The cherry provides a fruit-forward backbone, while orange brings bright citrus lift and cinnamon adds a thread of warming spice that should knit everything together beautifully.
Cherry as a botanical is relatively uncommon in the London Dry space. When it works well, it introduces a gentle stone-fruit sweetness that sits beneath the juniper rather than competing with it. Paired with cinnamon — a bark spice that carries its own natural warmth and complexity — you get a gin that promises depth without heaviness. The orange, meanwhile, acts as the bridge, offering familiar citrus notes that keep the spirit feeling unmistakably gin.
Best Served
I'd reach for this in a Clover Club without hesitation. The cherry character should harmonise wonderfully with raspberry syrup and lemon juice, while the cinnamon spice will add an extra dimension that a standard London Dry simply can't provide. Shake it hard with egg white, fine strain into a chilled coupe, and garnish with a few fresh raspberries. If you prefer something longer, a simple serve with a premium tonic — something with restrained quinine — a cinnamon stick and a twist of orange peel over good clear ice would let those botanicals speak for themselves.
At £50.75, you're paying a slight premium, likely reflecting the sourcing of quality New Zealand cherries and the craft involved in making them work within a London Dry specification. For a gin that offers genuine originality within a well-understood category, I think that's fair. I'm scoring Waiheke Red Ruby Gin a well-deserved 7.8 out of 10 — it demonstrates real creativity in its botanical selection while respecting the discipline that the London Dry style demands.
