FIRST JOURNEYS - EUROPEAN EXPEDITION- PIN 38(stop1) OF 40
PANDA GIN - Belgium
A ROAD TRIP WHERE EVERY STOP HAS A STORY
The lychee has long been associated with romance, beauty and good fortune in Chinese culture. Its vibrant red skin is considered a symbol of happiness and prosperity, but this little fruit also has a fascinating place in history.
During the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Xuanzong (Tang Minghuang) was famously devoted to Yang Guifei, regarded as one of ancient China’s great beauties. Lychees were said to be her favourite fruit, but because they were not grown near the imperial court, the emperor arranged for fresh supplies to be transported from the south of China.
Historical accounts describe an elaborate relay system used to deliver the fruit quickly — a rather extravagant example of royal affection!
Yang Guifei later became associated with one of the most dramatic periods in Tang history, but the reasons behind the empire’s decline were far more complicated than one romance. Nevertheless, the story of the emperor and his beloved lychees has endured for centuries.
Fast forward to modern Belgium, and lychee has become the inspiration behind Panda Gin. Created by four friends with a passion for spirits, Panda Gin was developed after months of research to create a completely new style of gin. Their aim was to combine traditional distilling with an unusual botanical — lychee — and they claim to be the first gin in the world to feature this exotic fruit.
The name Panda is also a nod to the gin’s connection with China and the story of the lychee. The founders chose the panda as a symbol of this East-meets-West inspiration — a gentle reminder of the fruit’s origins and the cultural heritage behind one of their key botanicals.
Just as the lychee became associated with beauty, romance and good fortune in Chinese tradition, Panda Gin aims to bring together exotic flavours and Belgian craftsmanship in a modern interpretation of this historic ingredient.
The gin is produced at Radermacher Distillery in Belgium, a family distillery founded in 1836 with almost two centuries of distilling experience.
Panda combines this traditional craftsmanship with a modern recipe featuring lychee, cherry, orange peel, basil, rosemary, Chinese star anise, juniper and water from the High Fens.
It is an interesting botanical lineup and certainly not your everyday gin. The nose is intensely fruity and sweet, with cherry particularly noticeable to me, although the lychee sits a little more quietly in the background. The result is a smooth, aromatic gin with a tropical feel, balanced by the herbs and spice from the other botanicals.
I decided to experiment with two different serves, bringing the lychee element forward:
Panda Negroni
20ml Panda Gin
20ml Luxardo Bitter Bianco
20ml Knightor Rose Vermouth
10ml Lychee liqueur
Dash of grapefruit bitters
Grapefruit peel garnish
A delicately sweet Negroni riff, with the bitter notes still making an appearance.
Panda Martini
20ml Panda Gin
5ml Lychee liqueur
10ml Fino sherry
Muddled lychees
A squeeze of grapefruit juice
A fruit-forward Martini where the cherry notes still shine through
.
“A fruit fit for an emperor, a Belgian gin and a taste of the East in every bottle.”
"Show me a bottle and I’ll tell you a story."