Hendrick’s Gin

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Hendrick’s Gin launched in 1999. It likely needs no introduction.

Hendrick’s Gin was launched by William Grant & Sons at a time when gin wasn’t the diverse, thriving category it is today. A clear callback to gin’s forbears, the apothecary style bottle suggests comparison to Genevers and a time when gin was a medicine. The Edwardian era advertising campaign has helped make the brand a stalwart both in bars and in homes.

A lot of what Hendrick’s does (and does well) set the stage for some of the contemporary gin fashions we see today. Firstly, process-wise the gin is distilled using a Carter-head still. No longer made, they were built with gin in mind. Botanicals are placed in a copper basket, and the vapor passes through them. It’s a very specific kind of “gin basket” designed by the Carter Brothers.

But they also use a traditional pot still method where botanicals are macerated for 24 hours (all but the rose and cucumber) and distilled. Hendrick’s combines the two, marrying the best of the deeper flavors from the pot still, and the lighter flavor from the Carter-head.

After blending the two distillates, they add rose and cucumber essence before dilution. It’s thee two notes that I think make Hendrick’s standout. Those two notes are the reason why people who might have written off gin as “just juniper” came back. And I think the popularity of this gin is the reason why distillers have felt emboldened to try wilder and newer things.

Hendrick’s seems tame by today’s contemporary gin standards. But the history of what it meant when it launched, and just how much impact Hendrick’s has had on the modern gin market should not be forgotten.

Tasting Notes

The nose certainly has juniper, but I find the musky hint of rose lightens it and gives it a floral forward impression. Sweet orange, lime zest and a hint of elderflower as well. The pine notes give it structure, but the floral notes give it a unique character.

The palate exudes a backbone of a very classic gin. You get the angelica, coriander, juniper and orris root accord. Sitting on top of that Hendrick’s has a surprising amount of citrus, especially mid-palate where orange and lime again resurface, almost with a candy-like note. Late palate a faint hint of yarrow (that slight salty licorice flavor) and black pepper.

Hendrick’s Gin finish is fairly long, with a serious juniper backed astringency. Notes of soaked rose petal, lime, Persian cucumbers, Earl Grey Tea and a surprising bitterness. A dull warmth of the spirit emanates quietly from the back of the palate. Very interesting.

Unusual? Perhaps in 1999.
Good? Yes, still good. Even neat.

Cocktails

I’ve gone through many bottles of Hendrick’s in my life. In fact, a Hendrick’s Gin and Tonic was perhaps the first gin cocktail I ever ordered out, and it changed my life. It takes me back personally; however, I recommend it to nearly anyone. The subtle rose notes blossom while juniper and citrus round out the palate. Highly Recommended.

I also find that for a 44% ABV gin, Hendrick’s Gin  works surprisingly well in a Negroni. The bitterness of the Campari amplifies the bitterness that the gin seems to bring on its own, while juniper rises to the fore. It’s creamy, rich, and almost platonic to me. Highly Recommended. 

The rose is the perfect note to make your next Clover Club Cocktail something special, while it sits just as nicely on the top of an Aviation or Blue Moon Cocktail. I remember one of my favorites being the Leap Year Cocktail. But Hendrick’s is a versatile gin that bartenders are right for loving, because it works well from Gimlet to Martini, and even in the Gin and Juice.

One particular cocktail to me seems to have emerged as a gin drink of choice in places where you might not normally see people drinking gin nor cocktails. The Hendrick’s dirty Martini is something of an underground specialty. If you go to a dive bar and ask the bartender for a gin drink, it’s happened nearly half a dozen times where she’ll go to the olive tub and a bottle of Hendrick’s. Some gin drinkers and cocktail aficionados may turn their nose up at the mere though of it; however, I find something oddly charming and delightful about it. Dirty Martinis are not my thing. But if you’re going to mix olive brine and gin, it’s surprising how the juniper, citrus, and cucumber notes complement it so well.

Overall

Hendrick’a Gin has with it the burden of history. The burden of generally being seen at the top of its game. If you ask the average drinker (notice, I didn’t say gin drinker!) to name a top shelf gin. This is probably the gin they’ll name.

It’s been around for so long that bartenders and long-time gin drinkers may even be tired of it. Average folks are tired of the peculiar marketing, the cucumber shaped blimps and the reverse marriage proposals.

But I’d be remiss if I let any of that get in the way of it. I still think Hendrick’s Gin is a well made gin. Worthy for fans of classic gins to dip their toes into the world of contemporary gins, and a good gin to start someone on if they’re unsure of gin.

It’s no longer the only game in town, but it’s still a game worth checking out.

Recommended. 

 

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30 thoughts on “Hendrick’s Gin”

  1. I’m a new Gin drinker, so I guess take this with a gain of salt; I love this stuff! This was my first neat gin and I’m so glad. There’s no harshness and the juniper taste come through so clearly. Not to long after this a friend gave me Bombay Sapphire, of which I was not a fan. Hendrick’s is where it’s at for me.

  2. Big Gin drinker, as Hendricks is my new Go to. As my great grandma marry said Gin is the fountain of youth and will keep you moving till your ready to check out

  3. Tried a G&T with Fevertree… really meh, lack the bite in a proper G&T.

    However for a Gin Spritzer, Hendrick’s is pretty good.

  4. The bar near my apt ranks Hendricks below Bombay sapphire in terms of pricing and for that I thank them . All summer I cleaned them out ordering G&T’so as well as gimlets with fresh lime juice.

  5. I thoroughly dislike this gin. I had it for the first time in a good bar, and it seemed like it was lost after the first sip. It’s been so typed I decided to buy a bottle, and no difference. Gone. I suppose if you don’t care for a strong gin and like the floral bouquet it would be OK–I like your “gateway” comment, but not for me. I’m working through the St. George line now and am really enjoying theirs.

  6. I think it is vile. It has notes of whatever that liquid is that a cucumber leaves at the bottom of your fridge as it enters its death throes and final incontinence.

  7. @steph hall

    sounds like you’ve been drinking from a bottle that has been exposed to FAR too much heat or sun for FAR too long.

  8. Being relatively new to gin drinking, I came to the game unencumbered by all of what long time gin drinkers carry with them in terms of what gin “should” taste like. At age 67, long ago I came to respect that a person should drink what they like, whether it be gin or any other alcoholic beverage. I tried Plymouth, Bombay Sapphire and Hendricks, on the advice of a gin drinker of many years. Hendricks finished first, Bombay Sapphire second and Plymouth third. When I read the reviews on this site about the various gins, it reminds me of the opinions of those who drink Chardonnay wine – they will fight to the death about whether “oaky” or “buttery” are desirable traits for a Chardonnay. For me, Hendricks is the superior gin of those I have sampled (and I have sampled other beyond these three). I don’t follow anyone who pronounces any quality gin as some worthy only to pour down the drain. I respect the reviews of those who give me more substance and who acknowledge in their review that others may have a different opinion and that is fine with them. What I see as a newer gin drinker is that there are many, many choices out there and what could be better than that?

  9. First tried Hendricks in a G&T with a little squeeze of a quarter of lime. Couldn’t believe people raved about Hendricks. Next time I had a Hendricks G&T a friend made it for me with a slice of cucumber and that made a big difference. It’s my second favorite Gin, with Blue Sapphire my number one.

  10. I’d rather have Tanqueray 10, Portobello Road, Monkey 47, Bloom or any Warner Edwards gin. I really don’t get Bombay Sapphire at all, it’s nothing special, but I haven’t tried Bombay Star. The Aldi £10 bottle is very good value and I’d say better than Sapphire. I’m no expert but I know what I like.
    If you are near the Northamptonshire/ Leicestershire boarder Id recommend the Warner Edwards Gin tour. It’s a very interesting evening. It’s very obvious by the tour the amount of passion that goes into their product.

  11. ..as some have said I too am no gin expert either and my gin drinks consist of gin & tonics. I’ve tried several gins including Bombay Sapphire and Tangueray…Hendricks wins even at its price. My wife insists on nothing less than Hendricks…so there it is…over and out

  12. I just purchased my first bottle of Hendricks. Based on the advice of one of my favorite beverage providers.
    I will start with a G&T to fairly compare to how I mostly drink my Gin.
    Then a cucumber infused martini to try it the way it was intended.
    I will share my OPINION at that point.

  13. I love Hendrick’s and got the Dreamscapes edition, which comes with a sweet little teacup. For me, this is how a classic G’n’T should taste. It’s also pretty good mixed with our homemade lemonade and blended with ice in the summer!

  14. I just got into the whole gin obsession thing about 4-5 months ago. But that doesn’t mean I’m a novice at drinking gin and martinis—I started that about 20 years ago, and almost exclusively bombay sapphire (sad to say). Now that I’m branching out, and realizing that aforementioned Bombay is NOT all there is, I’m having fun trying all the different gins—contemporaries and classics—that are out there.
    Now that the dust is settling, there are a few that are now my “go to” gins. Hendricks is one of them—when I want “something different”, something more flavorful without being over the top (like, say, Uncle Val’s Botanical). Yes, it’s cucumber, but I like cucumber…and like I said, it’s not over-the-top citrus and cucumber like Uncle Val’s (which I still like a lot, on occasion).
    When you want a martini that has that “extra something” to get your attention, but isn’t ridiculous, then Hendrick’s is it.

  15. It’s very hot, strong peppery when drinking neat, very unpleasant. Much stronger than Beefeater, Gordon’s etc. I was struggling to drink 4cl of it neat, which I usually drink as aperative. When mixing it with tonic etc , it’s very light, have only few herbal tones, mostly juniper and coriander. I do not found any cucumber or rose pedals there. I bet it was much better in 1999 than nowadays, when it’s produced much bigger quantities. I think it’s average gin, there are much better options nowadays. Not the value of it’s high price!!

  16. I had it years ago and I did not care for it, especially as a fan of Tanqueray No. Ten.

    And it is now much overpriced. I can get a 1.75 liter of Beefeater for $5 less than 1 liter of Hendrick’s in NY.

  17. Hendricks taught me that I do not care for strong floral flavors in gin. This site is great because it rates flavors and I can avoid the strong floral ones. (I did not like Esme for the same reason.)

  18. This is still my number one. For years, every summer I try about 4 or 5 different gins either martini/up, or G&T (Winter is scotch for me). Hendricks still heads as number one. Monkey 47 is a VERY close second. I think Uncle Val’s botanical makes the greatest G&T. Im also a big fan of Old Raj, Plymouth, & Oregon Spirits Dry Gin. I just discovered this site and seems that the owner & I have simpatico tastes. Thanks to him, I’m trying some new cocktails I’ve never had such as the Martinez and the Alaska. I’m also going to be trying some of the new gins in a Negroni.

    Very glad I foubd this site. But Hendricks still remains tops in my book!

  19. I have been drinking Hendrick ‘s Gin for a long time and know its taste. I left it off for about two years and started buying it again. I think the bottle that I am drinking either has been doctored or Hendrick’s has changed its flavour. It is not the same robust distinctive flavour. I am not sure if its alcoholic content is the same. Please investigate into the matter as I have stopped buyer.

  20. Best way to enjoy this is to not think of it as gin. Then it’s a very nice, unusual drink.

  21. Well praised.I’m a gin drinker and never thought of going in that direction,i was always satisfied with my Bombay .can wait to try this little beauty.