Product Information:
Calling all dreamers, artists and free-spirited souls! Be among the first to be captivated by this historic fruit-based libation that was in vogue in Paris in the early 20th Century. Ms Lesley Gracie has done it again, creating a decadently delicious, pleasure-seeking expression of Hendrick’s that is imbued with untamed exuberance and poetry. Grand Cabaret is a limited-edition.
Parisians at the turn of the 20th Century could not get enough of fruity eaux de vies, peach schnapps, cherry liqueurs and the like. Inspired by the fruity elixirs and the opulent of establishments that poured them Master Distiller, alchemist and liquid poet Lesley Gracie has deftly combined these flavours into a ravishingly fruity spirit, where pirouettes of decadent stone fruit share the stage with sweet herbs and make for an elegant sensory feast that is deliciously indulgent and yet as light as silk.
This is a bright, bold gin that has a rich depth and layers of flavour and yet is still refreshing and light – it’s ideal in a Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret and Tonic. If you want to be a little more fancy, the Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret Royale is an indulgent way to toast tantalising celebrations and combines Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret, cranberry, lime and a touch of sugar syrup which is topped with Champagne or sparkling wine for added decadence.
Maker:
Hendrick's, the "most unusual gin" has been brilliantly marketed as a quintessentially British product, associated with cucumber sandwiches and rose gardens, whilst simultaneously being proudly Scottish in its origins.
Created in Scotland in 1999, Hendrick's was successfully launched in the US in 2000, followed by the UK a few years later in 2003. The story goes that one summer's afternoon a Scottish whisky distiller, David Stewart, was visiting Janet Sheed Roberts, a very special lady known to her friends as Aunty Janie, who was not only the oldest woman in Scotland when she sadly died in 2012 aged 110, but even more notably, she was the granddaughter of William Grant the famous distiller.
Well it turns out David was also something of a closet gin lover and while in Aunty Janie's garden he was enjoying a cucumber sandwich washed down with a little gin sat amongst the roses (as you do). Struck by how well the flavours combined, our hero set about distilling a gin with a hint of both rose and cucumber. However, as a Scotch distiller of some repute he was loathed to associate his name with a gin, so he named his new libation for Aunty Janie's gardener, 'Hendrick', the man he had been chatting to at the time of his cucumber epiphany.
While the above is true enough, the actual story behind Hendrick's creation was more of a team effort. David, a revered whisky distiller, did indeed have the inspiration for the flavour profile of a new gin while in Aunty Janie's rose garden eating cucumber sandwiches, but he wasn't heavily involved in its development. His idea was brought to life by Lesley Gracie and John Ross with Lesley still charged with the distillation of Hendrick's to this day. They worked with the Scotch Whisky Research Institute, who helped with botanical analysis, to perfect the artisanal dual distillation method and realise David's epiphany by balancing a traditional London dry gin with complex rose and cucumber essences. Lastly, it was Janet Roberts (William Grant's granddaughter) who came up with the Hendrick's name, after her memories of an estate gardener called Hendrick who took particular care of the roses.
The Distillery:
All Hendrick's Gins are infused with the curious, yet marvellous, essences of rose and cucumber.
Hendrick's combines a distinct blend of eleven botanicals, as well as the signature infusions of cucumber and rose petals, producing a wonderfully refreshing gin with a delightfully unique aroma. Hand crafted in Scotland in miniscule batches by William Grant & Sons, Hendrick's is the only gin that uses a marriage of spirits from both Carterhead and Bennett Copper Pot Still, a combination that produces a divinely smooth gin that has both the required character and balance of subtle flavours. In 2018, the Hendrick's Master Distiller, Lesley Gracie, was awarded 'Gin Distiller of the Year' by the World Gin Awards in recognition of her ground-breaking work.
Cocktail:
If you’re looking for an indulgent celebratory drink - The Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret Royale is just the ticket – it combines Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret, cranberry, lime and a touch of sugar syrup which is topped with Champagne or sparkling wine for added decadence.
Hendrick's Grand Cabaret 30ml
Cranberry Juice 30ml
Lime Juice 15ml
Simple Syrup 15ml
Top with Champagne or sparkling wine
Combine ingredients in a champagne glass. Top with Champagne or sparkling wine. Garnish with a cucumber slice and orange peel.
Nose - Stone Fruit, Sweet herbs, Rose
A cabaret of stone fruit aromas seduces with wild waves of light, fruity freshness and is enhanced by sweet aromatic herbs.
Palate - Red Plum, Licorice Root, Black Pepper
Classic juniper character of Hendrick's Gin is enhanced by the natural soft sweetness and bright fruitiness of deliciously decadent stone fruits. Followed by cumin, cracked black pepper and salty liquorice back notes.
Finish - Cucumber, Floral Hints, Quinine
Subtle, lingering finish of cool, refreshing cucumber, floral hints, with a quinine and juniper bitterness.
The Finer Details
Style - Gin
Country - Scotland
Bottle Size - 700ml
ABV - 43.4%
