Monthly Archive for July, 2009

Gin is distilled grain alcohol flavoured with different herbs and spices known as botanicals. The main flavour ingredient in gin is juniper berries, which gives gin its distinctive dry taste and aroma. Other botanicals can include coriander, angelica root, citrus peels and liquorice.

Hendricks Gin is handcrafted in small batches in small batches in Ayrshire, Scotland using a 19th century pot still. Instead of boiling the ingredients like many other gins, the still “bathes” them in vapours at a leisurely pace – the more leisurely the disillation process, the more intense the flavour of the finished gin. The recipe for Hendricks Gin includes traditional botanicals such as juniper, coriander and citrus peels and an unexpected infusion of cucumber and rose petals which gives Hendricks Gin its truly unique and unusual flavour.

The first thing you’ll notice is that the bottle is squat and brown and distinctive – almost a nod to gin’s medicinal roots, because it looks like something you’d buy from an apothecary. The second thing is that instead of crowing about how their gin is the greatest thing since the polio vaccination, the little pamphlet that comes with the bottle almost dares you to try it. With slogans like “It is not for everybody” and “Preferred by 1 out of 1000 gin drinkers,” Hendrick’s definitely stays away from typical marketing techniques, though it does say Hendrick’s is “loved by a tiny handful of people all over the world.” But the question is whether the gin itself lives up to the quirky claims and dry humor?

The answer is unequivocally “Yes.” As soon as you pop the cork out of the bottle, there is definitely a juniper smell, but instead of the industrial tang found so often found in other gins, the odor is pleasant and mixed with a light citrusy smell. Just by taking that first whiff you know you are in the presence of something special. As for the taste, the only adjective we can come up with is “velvety.” There are the typical juniper/evergreen tastes, combined with citrus and even a mint undertone.

If you’re a gin drinker, someone who typically sticks to a Bombay Sapphire or Tanqueray, we highly recommend giving Hendrick’s a try on your next visit to Ginkgo. The best way to enjoy it is with tonic, served, not altogether surprisingly, with a slice of cucumber. You’ll be glad you did. Don’t just drink it – savor it, sip it, enjoy it.

More About Hendrick’s Gin can be found on their website: www.hendricksgin.com