A very eyecatching bottle to say the least - I must admit that from the moment I saw it, I was definitely intrigued to have a go at it, and after all the sound of a pineapple infusion gin itself was too good to pass up!

But who is the Big Kahuna?

The brand itself comes from Germany, but much of its inspiration comes from much further away to - you guessed it, Hawaii.

Duke Kahanamoku, but you can call him the Big Kahuna.

More specifically, the makers of Big Kahuna had been inspired by Duke Kahanamoku, the "Big Kahuna". Kahanamoku was born in Hawaii in 1890, and is said to be the man who pioneered modern surfing and who had brought the sport to a global audience in the early 1900's. Kahanamoku had done alot in his life - he had won 5 Olympic medals for swimming, setting numerous world records, and even after he had retired, the man who become an actor, sheriff in Honolulu, and all the while was an avid surfer.

And thus the idea for this gin was to capture that Aloha spirit with the distinct character of pineapple, which Hawaii is of course known for. While it may seem like a rather niche fruit, we're told that the pineapple is rather well regarded pretty much everywhere it was brought to - in 16th and 17th century Europe, in the rare instance that a pineapple had survived the long voyage from the Caribbeans to Europe, it would be quickly taken up by members of high society and became somewhat of a status symbol. In Asia, we already know that the pineapple is intricately tied to wealth and prosperity, and is often used in treats during new years (like the Chinese New Year, in the form of pineapple tarts) to wish great fortune and blessings unto friends and family. Must be something to do with the fact that the pineapple looks like it has a crown on its head! It's certainly a universal experience folks seem to have with the fruit.

And yet another aspect that's very commendable about Big Kahuna Gin is that as part of their endeavour to pay homage to Hawaii, they're also doing their part for causes such as ocean conservation, and so with every bottle sold, 1 Euro goes to such causes. They've listed down a number of organisations that they contribute to on their site.

As for how they make their gin, they use an assortment of botanics which includes lavender, coriander, apricots, oranges and of course a heap of pineapples, alongside the base juniper. It's worth noting that they also have a non-alcoholic version that's made available.

And so without further ado, let's get to trying it!

Gin Review: Big Kahuna Gin, 40% ABV

Tasting Notes

Colour: Clear

Aroma: Really nice and evocative sweet scents of pineapple puree and pineapple jellies, alittle bit of sweet vanilla cream to go along with it. It's got great aromatic intensity, it comes off really heady and of potpourri. At the same time there's a richness that balances out those bright fruity flavours.

Taste: It starts off with a refreshing mintiness, along with more of that pineapple puree - it tastes exactly like pineapple jam, really natural - more on assorted citruses that gives it an almost gradience, with more on apricots, mandarin oranges, some apples too. That's all outlined by some slightly herbal and fresh eucalyptus.

Finish: Clean finish, more of that assortment of citrusy and orchard fruits. It has a very natural quality about its aromatics that keeps it satisfyingly perfumed without coming off squeaky.

My Thoughts

If you're in the mood for pineapple this is it! It's nailed that pineapple profile really nicely, it comes off fresh and natural, really aromatic and rich as well. I also thought it was a nice touch that its makers had included in other nearby citrus fruits which has this really cool effect of giving you shades of citruses and it almost fans out as a gradient going from citrus to orchard fruits. It's certainly not sugary as tends to be the case with alot of pineapple driven spirits, which again I really enjoyed how natural it comes across. At the same time it balances out the bright aromatics with a good richness of the fuller body which makes sure it doesn't get high toned or squeaky.

I'd say this would work great in any cocktail - you get a clean and concentrated pineapple flavour and aromatics without much sugar or having to use any sort of juice, cordial or concentrate - where it's very distinct and compartmentalised, giving it a versatility to fit into any recipe. For me, I'd like to have this added to a Mojito or a Bellini to give it a more tropical vibe, but I'd guess more folks might prefer to use it for a Pina Colada. A Highball would work too or something more vegetal like a Margarita or a Paloma, that would do great. Nicely done!

Kanpai!

@111hotpot