About this gin

Hendrick's was created in 1999 at William Grant & Sons' Girvan site on the Ayrshire coast, and launched just as the modern gin revival was getting started. Its quirk is in the stills: half of the spirit runs through a small Bennett copper pot still, giving weight and depth, and half through a Carter-Head still, where vapour passes through a basket of botanicals for a lighter, more floral result. The two are blended, then essences of rose petal and cucumber are added.

The eleven botanicals include juniper, coriander, angelica, orris, cubeb, caraway, chamomile, elderflower, meadowsweet and citrus peel. In the glass that means a silky, gently sweet gin with juniper and citrus, a peppery spice, and a long, floral, cucumber-cool finish. It is a gin that suits sipping as much as mixing, and the dark apothecary-style bottle has made it a favourite gift for anyone who likes a G&T.

Key facts

• Created in Scotland in 1999 by William Grant & Sons
• Distilled in two very different stills, a Bennett copper pot still and a Carter-Head still, then blended
• Eleven botanicals including juniper, chamomile, elderflower, meadowsweet, cubeb and caraway
• Rose petal and cucumber essences are added after distillation

Tasting notes

Nose:

Juniper and pine, lime marmalade, rose and floral spice

Palate:

Silky and slightly sweet, juniper and citrus, then black pepper and a little liquorice

Finish:

Long and floral, with cool cucumber and a light bitter edge

Serve

The signature serve: a gin and tonic in a tall glass over plenty of ice, garnished with three thin slices of cucumber instead of lime.

Food pairing

Rose and cucumber pair nicely with dahi-based dishes like doi maach or a cucumber raita, and with cucumber sandwiches or smoked salmon.