Introduction
I’ve always kept an eye on limited edition gins that step outside the usual botanicals, especially if they’re tied to cultural traditions. When I came across this small-batch bottling from Peddlers—their Tanghulu Gin—it immediately caught my attention. Inspired by tanghulu, a northern Chinese street snack of hawthorn berries candied in sugar syrup, this gin is clearly aiming to do something a little different with its flavour profile. I didn’t go into the tasting expecting balance or subtlety, but I was curious to see if nostalgia-driven concept could translate into a meaningful drinking experience.
Nose
The aroma is vivid but not overwhelming, and it’s quite unlike any other gin I’ve smelled. There’s an immediate note of sweet red fruit—reminiscent of cranberry, but with the gentle tartness of hawthorn coming through. Beneath that sweetness, I got the more familiar notes of cassia bark and clove. There’s a hint of something balsamic as well, almost like Chinese preserved plums, along with a dry peppery undertone that reminds me this is still very much a gin.
Palate
On the tongue, the texture is slightly oily, which carries the flavours well. The candied fruit notes surface first—bright, red, and syrupy, but not cloying. It definitely evokes the sugar-shell coating of tanghulu, and there’s a distinct hawthorn tartness that gives it structure. Then, the botanicals creep in—ginger, Sichuan pepper, and some star anise. It's a bit bracing when taken neat, with heat from both alcohol and spice, but not harsh. The transition from sweet to spicy feels intentional, and while it’s not a textbook-balanced gin, it keeps your attention.
Finish
The finish is medium-length, drying quickly after the initial sweetness fades. What’s left is a lingering warmth from the Sichuan peppercorn and ginger, as well as a faint echo of clove and hawthorn skin. The aftertaste leans slightly herbal rather than sweet, which I appreciated, since it ensures the gin doesn’t tip into confectionery territory. I did find that the flavours became more rounded over a large cube of ice or in a highball, taking off some of the sharper edges.
Price and Value
This was sold as a limited Chinese New Year release, and the boutique nature of the gin is reflected in the pricing. It’s not budget-friendly, but it wasn’t prohibitively overpriced either. Considering the uniqueness of the recipe and the effort in capturing specific regional nostalgia, I’d say the price was justified for someone looking to try something off the beaten path. That said, it may not be a regular sipper for most, so I’d hesitate to call it great value unless you specifically appreciate bold, unconventional gins.
Background
Peddlers rarely plays it safe with their botanical choices. Based in Shanghai, Peddlers Gin Company has consistently explored botanicals native to or widely used in China, often highlighting ingredients like Buddha’s hand, lotus, and Sichuan peppercorns. This Tanghulu edition was created for the Chinese New Year season and features hawthorn as the key flavour component—an ingredient with nostalgic and cultural resonance throughout northern China.
Tanghulu itself is often eaten during colder months, its shiny sugar crust hardening in the winter air around skewered hawthorn or other fruits. The gin seeks to capture both the fruit and the caramelised sugar aspects of that tradition, brought into balance (or perhaps tension) with a bold base of spice-rich botanicals.
Final Notes
Would I buy this bottle again? As an annual special—yes. It’s not something I’d keep stocked year-round, but for curious gin drinkers and those with ties to the region or its flavours, it’s worth revisiting when it’s available. Is it suitable for newcomers to gin? It depends. If you’re used to softer, citrus-forward gins, this might feel rather robust or offbeat. The spice and candied hawthorn are a bold introduction.
What kind of setting suits it? For me, this worked really well in a festive context—something to pour when you’re marking a seasonal occasion or want to surprise someone with a story-driven pour. And how does it compare to other limited editions? It holds its own for originality. While I wouldn’t call it universally appealing, it’s a bold and unapologetically regional gin that doesn’t taste like anything else I’ve had from the category.