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This is everything you need to know about Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin, Craft Gin Club's January 2022 Gin of the Month!
Jan 11, 2022
Introducing Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin from Sông Cái Distillery, Craft Gin Club’s January 2022 Gin of the Month! Coming to the UK exclusively through Craft Gin Club, this mouth-watering craft gin comes all the way from Vietnam and is a remarkable expression of that beautiful country.
In this feature, you can find out how Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin is made, what it tastes like, how to serve it and what other gins Sông Cái Distillery creates. Scroll down to reveal all!
Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin
Distilled in Vietnam, launched in the UK exclusively through Craft Gin Club
45% ABV
How is Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin made?
Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin is distilled by Sông Cái Distillery, Vietnam’s first small-batch gin distillery, which was founded by Vietnamese-American Daniel Nguyen, who was born and raised in California but now lives and works in Vietnam.
When we set out to create this gin, we were determined to capture the essence of Vietnam in every bottle – and we keep that in mind with every choice we make, from the botanicals we source to the stories we choose to tell with our branding.
— Daniel Nguyen, Sông Cái Distillery founder
Sông Cái’s eclectic team at the distillery in Hanoi
The distillery uses botanicals native to Vietnam, like the leaves and berries from the Mắc Mật tree and Mắc Khén jungle peppers, to create a London Dry style of gin that is completely unique and gives gin-lovers a true and utterly delicious expression of that wonderful country.
We chose botanicals that members of communities in North Vietnam would be proud to see us use. They may be a little bit more obscure on the international scene, but it was important to us that as we were building this premier Vietnamese spirit, we were placing gin in the context of northern Vietnamese culture.
— Daniel Nguyen
To collect their native botanicals, the distillery works with over 70 families of multi-generational foragers, farmers and foresters. Together they collect the heirloom botanicals in the gin, and it’s the fruits of their labour we get to enjoy with each sip.
Which botanicals are used to make Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin? Macedonian juniper, Mắc Mật berries, Mắc Mật leaves, Mắc Khén jungle peppers, black peppercorn, Diễn pomelo peel, white liquorice, Đia Siêu wood, ginger, turmeric, coriander seed, cassia bark and cassia Leaf.
Foraging for Vietnamese Botanicals
After the gin has been distilled it is then put through a process called “maturation”. That involves leaving each batch of gin to mature for one or two months, depending on the climate and overall conditions during the process.
What does “Sông Cái” mean? Sông Cái means “Mother River” and, for Daniel Nguyen, that name is full of meaning.
[Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin] pays homage to the deep reverence rural agricultural communities have for bodies of waters as givers of life. But it’s also worth considering that rivers are something that connects communities – both figuratively and literally. From the mountains they flow all the way down to the coast, and we’re now reaching out across the ocean to the international community. We can’t wait to see what Craft Gin Club members make of Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin.
— Daniel Nguyen
Where is Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin made?
Sông Cái Distillery sits in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. A historic and culturally rich city, it’s the crown jewel of northern Vietnam, a region of breathtaking beauty – picture a tapestry of lush forests, cloud-topped mountains, roaring rivers and indigenous communities with age-old histories.
What does Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin taste like?
On the nose, expect a burst of sweet citrusy notes from the pomelo peel, followed by fruity aromas and a subtle hint of spice. This carries on through to the palate, with a blend of spiced citrus, honey, lychee and juniper. Warm wood and soft tannins linger long on the finish. Delicious!
How do you serve Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin?
Enjoy this fabulous Vietnamese gin with a premium citrus-forward tonic like Artisan Yuzu Tokyo Tonic and garnish with kumquat slices for a truly remarkable G&T experience. You can find the recipe for our perfect Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin & Tonic at this link or by clicking on the image below:
Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin also works amazingly well in gin cocktail recipes. One of our favourite Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin cocktail recipes is Craft Gin Club’s New Moon, which is our January 2022 Cocktail of the Month, developed specifically for Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin.
This cocktail combines the gin with Artisan Fiery Ginger Beer, our bespoke New Moon cocktail syrup and garnishes of chilli and lime. You can find the full recipe here or by clicking on the image below:
What other gins does Sông Cái Distillery make?
Sông Cái Distillery has two other craft gins in their range:
Sông Cái Việt Nam Floral Gin:
What inspired Sông Cái Việt Nam Floral Gin? In Vietnam, the 1st and 15th of every lunar month are marked by a signature blossom, often used in cooking or to decorate family alters. This botanical blend is a mixture of heirloom botanicals from remote mountains and vast lowlands and features five distinct flowers, including jasmine and dragon’s claw.
What does Sông Cái Việt Nam Floral Gin taste like? It’s floral and fruity, with notes of black cherry, ripe jackfruit and honeyed sweetness.
How should Sông Cái Việt Nam Floral Gin be drunk? In a G&T or a sophisticated Martini or Negroni.
Sông Cái Việt Nam Rose Myrtle Gin
What inspired Sông Cái Việt Nam Rose Myrtle Gin? This gin is inspired by traditional Vietnamese fruit liqueurs. Its star botanical is Rose Myrtle, a berry similar to a gooseberry that grows wild in the red soil of the Central Highlands of Vietnam, which have been home to indigenous Jarai and Bahnar communities for centuries.
What does Sông Cái Việt Nam Rose Myrtle Gin taste like? Similar to sloe gin, it’s perfect for the winter season. It’s sweet, with notes of fruit, soft tannins and warm spice.
How should Sông Cái Việt Nam Rose Myrtle Gin be drunk? A rich ruby colour, this gorgeous gin can be drunk on its own over ice or mixed with ginger ale.
Where can I buy Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin?
You can buy Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin on the Craft Gin Club online shop here.
The gin has been launched in the UK exclusively through Craft Gin Club and our January 2022 Gin of the Month box, meaning lucky Craft Gin Club members are some of the first people in the UK to give it a try. Discover what we sent with Sông Cái Việt Nam Dry Gin in our January box right here or by clicking on the image below:
