Hendrick’s is something of a household name. Perhaps you've heard of it? This terrific Scottish gin is made using two different stills - the Bennett stillsteeps its botanicals overnight before distillation, while the Carter-Head has its botanicals in a basket up in the still neck, steaming them gently. It features the likes of juniper, cubeb berries, elderflower, chamomile, angelica, lemon peel, orange peel, coriander, yarrow and orris, alongside an infusion of cucumber and rose petal. If you're making a G&T with this, it just has to be garnished with a ribbon of cucumber.
Big, creamy aromas right off the bat, with a little zesty citrus, juniper, rose petal jelly and cucumber.
Astoundingly fresh notes of cucumber with juniper, oak, a touch more citrus and vanilla. Creamy and savoury.
A long, refreshing, floral finish.
I love a G&T. Great summer drink. Light and easy. My preference for Hendricks is a neutral tonic, cucumber over ice.
Without the whole "cucumber is a prime botanical" spiel being shoved down your throat at any and every opportunity, I would defy anyone to actually notice the flavour being there. I went to a blind tasting, with 25 other bartenders and I don't think that any of them actually picked out the cucumber - the overriding impression at the blind tasting was that this was a flavourless, uninspiring, weak gin. In fact, this was picked as the poorest of the gins in the test, almost unanimously. Others in the test were (if I remember correctly) Beefeater, Tanqueray, Tanq 10, Bloom, Sipsmith, Bulldog, Sloanes and 209. I am currently in the process of removing this from our bar and educating customers that, just because something is marketed well (and to be fair, it is marketed VERY well), it does not make it a quality product.
Rose and cucumber are extremely prominent in both the flavour and scent of this gin. This adds an interesting flavour for martinis, and makes a pretty killer G&T. Ultimately though, juniper tends to take a back seat to the other flavours. I feel as though, while interesting at first it does not have as much potential for versatility or a true quinine and juniper flavour that normally defines gin. This gin is best used for G&T's, as the lime really contrasts the smooth cucumber flavour.
Unusual flavor,a taste to cultivate.I have yet to taste it with tonic.
I don't personally enjoy the good old G&T, but Hendricks with tonic and a slice of cucumber is the best. Cant beat this drink.
