Njord x Northside "This Is Not a Gin" Liqueur

Inside the bottle hides a fresh, elegant, and sweet gin-based liqueur named “This is not a gin.” It’s perfect for enjoying in the summer sun — either neat over ice, with a splash of dry tonic or as one of our cocktails.

Floral fruitiness from blackberries, cherry plum blossoms, and red dead-nettle flowers, herbal notes from wild carrot seeds, and warm, earthy tones from carrots and red dead-nettle stems add depth. A base of juniper, coriander seeds, liquorice root, and lemon balm contributes classic gin character. The gin is then rounded off with sugar and infused with blackberries, which lend color, berry sweetness, and a bright fruit acidity.

We write “This is not a gin” on the label because, according to EU regulations, a gin must have an alcohol content above 37.5% to be called a gin. The label design and the phrase “This is not a gin” also reference the famous surrealist painter René Magritte’s iconic painting of a pipe—as well as his more than 50 works featuring figures with floating bowler hats.

The number of different botanicals in the liqueur, the number of blackberries on the label, and the sum of the digits in the 33.22% ABV all serve as a subtle celebration of Njord’s 10-year anniversary as a cocktail bar at NorthSide Festival. It was here that we launched the summery gin liqueur, which became a big hit among festivalgoers and cocktail bar guests alike. The label was designed by Thomas Svanholm, who also created an art print based on the label’s design.