Hooch Spirits Lemon Gin from Good Time In Review

Reviewed by Colin Hewitt

I must admit I had forgotten about Hooch. Anyone who remembers the first wave of alcopops from the mid-1990s will be familiar with the iconic brands of Two Dogs, Breezer, Diamond White and Hooch. Such was their notoriety that some were even briefly banned from outlets of certain supermarkets. During my student days, they were highly fashionable. However, I recall most of them as being overly sweet and way too easy to drink, and I regularly bore the hangovers to prove it.

I was surprised to see that after a hiatus, Hooch Alcoholic Brew was reintroduced in 2012, albeit with a lower alcohol content than its 1990s predecessor. Nevertheless, it’s still very much a party drink solidly aimed at a youthful party-going market.

I was nostalgically intrigued when I was allowed to try a bottle of Hooch Spirits Lemon Gin. At 37.5% ABV this is a grown-up distant relative of the former. They look similar, but the family comparisons stop there.

The 70cl bottle itself has the familiar Hooch livery and font. It looks youthful; it’s not pretending to be sophisticated; it’s here for a party. The contents are marker-pen yellow, it doesn’t quite glow in the dark, but it’s not far off.

Firstly I tried it with plain, straightforward tonic water (not flavoured in any way), plenty of ice and the obligatory slice of lemon. The result was surprisingly sharp and refreshing; very palatable indeed – there’s no added sweetness to the product. However, the lemon flavour is so strong, my solitary slice of fresh lemon added nothing and was only there for decoration.

I then tried the gin with lemonade. I didn’t like this as much; I found it too sweet. However, that’s obviously personal taste. I might have chosen a lemonade that had too high a sugar content. I might even suggest that it started to taste similar to what my memory of the original 1990’s Hooch was telling me.

I haven’t attempted this yet, but I think it should work really well. Add some orange juice and some fresh fruit, and make a St Clements style punch or cocktail – maybe it’s something I’ll try over Christmas.

This is a surprisingly pleasant drink. It’s not trying to be anything else apart from a basic, lemon-flavoured gin. If you’re looking to discover a delicately balanced gin full of botanicals with just a hint of Sicilian lemon, you’re definitely looking in the wrong place. Hooch Spirits Lemon Gin has a citrus zing that will slap you across the face.

I’d recommend having a quick look at the excellent Good Time In website. You’ll find a vast selection of branded alcohol, cans, bottles, party packs – even a range of Christmas gift ideas (anyone for a Hooch Santa’s Hat?)

A bottle of Hooch Lemon Gin would make an ideal Christmas Stocking filler for any Gin Loving party goer. In addition, it would make an excellent present for anyone who reminisces about the ’90s but has found their palate has become less sweet over the years.

Rating: 4/5

RRP: £15.99

For more information or to buy direct from Good Time In, visit goodtimein.co.uk