Hendrick’s Gin is a gin first and foremost — and then something altogether more curious. Distilled at the Hendrick’s Gin Palace in the tiny seaside village of Girvan, Ayrshire, and infused with the marvellous essences of rose petal and cucumber, this is a wonderfully refreshing gin of delightfully floral character and genuine eccentricity. Eleven botanicals from the four corners of the world set the stage for that signature duet of rose and cucumber — a combination that has made Hendrick’s one of the most distinctive and beloved gins in the world since its first release in 1999.
Appearance
Crystal clear with the luminous purity of a gin crafted in 500-litre batches under the careful artistry of Master Distiller Lesley Gracie.
Aroma
A burst of juniper and citrus amongst green and floral notes leads, before moving into cumin, salt, anise, and pepper. Flowers linger throughout, with the signature rose petal and cucumber infusion adding a delightfully whimsical and refreshing dimension that is immediately and unmistakably Hendrick’s.
Palate
Wonderfully refreshing and floral, with stewed cucumber, juniper, and a quinine bitterness on the finish that provides structure and length. The rose and cucumber infusion is seamlessly integrated — present without being dominant, and endlessly charming from first sip to last.
Serving Suggestions
Best enjoyed — from glass or, should you desire, a teacup — as a most enchanting Hendrick’s and Tonic, served with plenty of ice and three slices of cucumber. A natural companion to oysters, seafood, Turkish delight, and cucumber sandwiches. Best enjoyed at your bewitching hour.
Hendrick’s Gin is distilled in not one but two utterly dissimilar stills — the Bennett, an antique copper pot dating back to 1860, and the Carter-Head, hailing from 1948, of which only a few exist in the world today. Each brings a different character to the spirit, and it is the combination of the two that gives Hendrick’s its distinctive and complex botanical signature. Every batch is crafted just 500 lovely litres at a time — exactly as it was when Hendrick’s first began in 1999 — under the direct supervision of Master Distiller Lesley Gracie and her team of ten. The botanical blend of flowers, roots, fruits, and seeds from around the world is then complemented by the signature infusion of rose petal and cucumber essences, added after distillation to preserve their delicate and whimsical character.
Producer History
The Hendrick’s Gin Palace hails from Girvan — a tiny seaside village in Ayrshire, south-west Scotland, just a mile inland from the distillery, which overlooks the mysterious volcanic island of Ailsa Craig. This alluring, uninhabited outcrop — home to gannets, puffins, and many a local legend — provides the suitably eccentric backdrop for a gin that has never taken itself entirely seriously, and is all the better for it. Since its first release in 1999, Hendrick’s has remained committed to small-batch production, antique stills, and the singular vision of Master Distiller Lesley Gracie — a combination that has produced one of the world’s most recognisable and beloved gins.
