Hendrick's Gin

[Bertilak]

Picked up a bottle of this today. Bought it on a whim. At first I had Beefeater in the cart but just as I was leaving the Gin section, I noticed the Hendrick's bottle. Since the bottle looked interesting, and I had a vague memory of someone recommending it, I swapped out the Beefeater.

Had just a few sips to taste it and was a bit surprised! First thing I noticed was the citrus flavor -- probably orange. So I read the label for the first time and saw that it contains, in addition to juniper, coriander, citrus peel, and rose. The label also said "NOT FOR EVERYONE".

Well, I like it, at least at first blush, but am wondering how it will hold up after more experience and also what kind of Martini it will make.

Any comments on Hendrick's?

 

[Mazeman]

Hendricks is my go-to gin. My #2 choice is Bombay (NOT the sapphire).

Besides the rose you mentioned as a botanical, Hendricks also has cucumber in it.

They also have a fun website.

 

[Bertilak]

They also have a fun website.

Well that was fun!

They sure like cucumbers!

 

[Laz]

Hendricks was a Spirit of the Month selection last year. Boodles is my go to gin, but Hendricks is nice too. Haven't tried making a martini with it yet. Let us know how it tastes.

 

[Loric]

Gin is my favorite drink and Hendriks is king of the heap. Nothing else even comes close, its the only gin I can drink straight. I actually prefer it straight. Good selection my fine friend.

 

[proxymoron]

I'm a Plymouth man, but Hendricks is good stuff. Try the martini with the cucumber garnish. Very refreshing and once described by the Times as a "martini in a Hawaiian shirt."

 

[Mazeman]

If I don't feel like mixing a proper Martini, I'll just pour some Hendricks over rocks with a couple dashes of Peychauds bitters. A quick, pink (and therefore capricious) cocktail.

 

[dklaiman]

It's my go to gin in a martini or a gin and tonic. I like plain old Tanqueray in a gimlet.

 

[Bertilak]

Hendricks was a Spirit of the Month selection last year. Boodles is my go to gin, but Hendricks is nice too. Haven't tried making a martini with it yet. Let us know how it tastes.

Chasing through links from there I found this: http://whiskeyapostle.com/2009/02/hendricks-gin/ . I think that summed up my first-time taste of Hendrick's, but said it much better than I could have.

 

[Alexbel^]

I'm a gin drinker too and love a good dry martini or an Americano or nigroni .
Don't count out Beefeater yet.
I once new a fabulous alcoholic that swore by beefeater . He frequented some of the most elegant sophisticated places in new york for years . the pierre hotel ,Tavern on the green and sometimes Geno's were, regular late afternoon haunts after some vodka cocktails he'd mix at home at about noon when he poured himself out of bed .
He would usually leave his elegant alcohol soaked lounge of choice some time in the evening with or with out his Aldens on, and after giving a terrific tip .
This true Gent ( and I mean it ), knew his booze from his ....... ah.. backside .
so next time try the Beefeater . It didn't harm me any .

Alex

 

[DE Shaver]

I like Hendricks gin but I prefer Plymouth over it. It has a more smooth and citrus like taste to my palette. However, Hendricks is still very nice.

 

[Bertilak]

Don't count out Beefeater yet.

Oh, I'm not. Just being adventurous.

I actually suspect Hendrick's might be just a bit "busy" for a truly great Martini. Too much going on in there? Perhaps it is best suited to Gin and Tonic. Just guessing. I will see how it goes. I am intrigued by the idea of drinking it on the rocks with some bitters.

 

[Not A Nice Person]

I'm not a gin drinker by any means, due to a truly unfortunate experience with Tanquery in my Seabee days . . . but I tried the Hendricks on a whim when it was spirit of the month here, and love it. Cucumber and tonic is how I generally drink it, and it's a fine summer cocktail.

Keep meaning to try it in a martini, but that would require buying another shaker, and since my usual drinks tend toward brown whiskeys and rocks, it'd only get used a few times a year.

NANP™

 

[Ronan the BARBERian]

Gin is my favorite drink and Hendriks is king of the heap. Nothing else even comes close, its the only gin I can drink straight. I actually prefer it straight. Good selection my fine friend.

+1

Perfect for a Churchill Martini, so dry you just looking in the direction of france is as close as Vermouth gets to it

 

[georgekyr]

Hendricks is good, but I believe that Beefeater is the best there is especially for drinking gin straight...

 

[Bertilak]

I'm not a gin drinker by any means, due to a truly unfortunate experience with Tanquery in my Seabee days

Hmm, I had an unfortunate experience with rum in my college days and for the longest time could not even stomach the smell of it. Many years later I got over that and now can enjoy a good rum drink, or even a good sipping rum straight up.

My experience was a tour of the Bacardi distillery in Puerto Rico. The overwhelming sickly-sweet smell of rum almost made me ill. I did not accept the free rum drink they offered at the end of the tour and went for *years* without touching a drop. (of rum, that is)

 

[Laz]

Chasing through links from there I found this: http://whiskeyapostle.com/2009/02/hendricks-gin/ . I think that summed up my first-time taste of Hendrick's, but said it much better than I could have.

I may have to add this site to my links - it looks interesting

 

[jwhite]

I'm a big fan Of Hendrick's, and makes a very nice martini. I feel it has enough character to stand up to a decent vermouth well.

 

[murchmb]

Hendrick's is the gin that made me stop hating gin. They have a fantastic website and newsletter BTW.

 

[Bertilak]

Yesterday afternoon I did make a very nice G-n-T with my new Hendrick's!