Gin

The gin category continues to be a favourite with Australian consumers with both traditional English and modern local gins seeing growth. The gin revival hasn’t happened overnight but has risen on the back of brand premiumisation, the cocktail culture trend, and the evolution of craft distilleries.

“Gin for me, is a cooling, freshening flavour. With its subtle botanical blend of juniper, lemon, orange and aromatic spice notes, it is the perfect spirit to build refreshing and palate cleansing cocktails on, if you like complex flavours, says Ben Davidson, our resident Drinks Guru.

“Add vermouths, fresh fruits, herbs and spices to enhance the flavour notes in the gin further and have plenty of good mixers on hand like the Fever-Tree tonic waters.

A traditional, yet a quirky brand, Hendrick’s Gin is an excellent gin cocktail base with its notes of cucumber and rose petal. We have a few tasty examples to inspire you, from the simple to the complex.

HENDRICK’S & TONIC

INGREDIENTS: 30ml Hendrick’s Gin 120ml Fever-Tree Indian Tonic

METHOD: Add ingredients to a highball glass, add ice and gently stir

GARNISH: Garnish with a baby cucumber

THE ORCHARD COLLINS

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Hendrick’s Gin 20ml Fresh lemon juice 10ml Sugar syrup 75ml Apple cider

METHOD: Add ingredients to a highball glass, add ice and gently stir

GARNISH: Slices of apple and cucumber

GLASSWARE: Highball

AFTERNOON G & TEA

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Hendrick’s Gin 45ml English Breakfast tea 90ml Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic

METHOD: Add ingredients to a highball glass, add ice and gently stir

GARNISH: A slice of orange and cucumber

SECRET GARDEN

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Hendrick’s Gin 30ml Seedlip Garden 30ml Cold pressed apple juice 15ml Fresh lemon juice 15ml Hemp seed syrup* 2 x Sage leaves

METHOD: Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker and add a scoop of ice. Shake well and fine strain into a cocktail glass

GARNISH: Sage leaf

GLASSWARE: Cocktail

*HEMP SEED SYRUP Add 100gm of hulled hemp seeds to 500ml of sugar syrup and slowly bring to a simmer for 5 minutes and allow to cool. Fine strain into a bottle and refrigerate.

LESLIE GRACIE

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Hendrick’s Gin 15ml Elderflower cordial 90ml Fever-Tree Soda Water

METHOD: Add ingredients to an old fashioned glass, add ice and gently stir

GARNISH: A slice of baby cucumber

GLASSWARE: Old fashioned

GIN BASIL SMASH

INGREDIENTS: 60ml Hendrick’s Gin 30ml Fresh lemon juice 15ml Sugar syrup 3 x Fresh basil leaves

METHODS: Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker and add a scoop of ice. Shake well and fine strain into a double old fashioned glass with a large cube of ice

GARNISH: A basil sprig and a slice of cucumber

GLASSWARE: Double old fashioned