Hendricks Amazonia Gin

Volume: 1 litre | Alcohol content: 43.4% | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Hendrick’s Amazonia adds tropical fruit notes to the signature combination of cucumber and rose. This limited edition belongs to the Cabinet of Curiosities and was originally developed for airport retail. It is offered at 43.4% in a 1-litre bottle.

The inspiration came from a three-week journey to Venezuela in 2013. Master Distiller Lesley Gracie explored the rainforest with Charles Brewer-Carías and plant expert Francisco Delascio. For Amazonia, she translated the scents encountered there into a fruity, floral gin profile that complements the Hendrick’s house style.

The edition also includes a collaboration with the reforestation organisation One Tree Planted. The accompanying programme provides for a tree to be planted in the Amazon region for every bottle sold.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose is distinctly tropical. Juicy, almost overripe pineapple meets guava nectar, passion fruit and sweetish lime. A delicate rose note complements the fruit.
• Palate: Pineapple, juniper and angelica come together on the palate. Towards the mid-palate, lime, ripe passion fruit and intense elderflower emerge. These are followed by the peppery spice of cubeb and a warm hint of vanilla and tonka bean.
• Finish: A musky rose note becomes more pronounced on the long finish. Tropical fruits linger subtly, accompanied by moderate warmth.

Distillery/Bottler:

Hendrick’s is made in Girvan on Scotland’s Ayrshire coast. Under Lesley Gracie’s direction, the distillery combines two different distillation methods: in the Bennett still, the botanicals are steeped in alcohol for at least 14 hours before distillation. In the Carter-Head, they sit in a basket through which the alcohol vapour passes. This produces a fuller-bodied distillate and a lighter one, which are then brought together.

For classic Hendrick’s, rose and cucumber essences are added only after distillation to preserve their fragrant and green qualities. To develop new creations, Gracie uses a laboratory in the Gin Palace with a collection of essences, extracts and distillates: the Cabinet of Curiosities is therefore not just an edition name, but also her working aroma library. Tropical and Mediterranean greenhouses provide plants for further experiments.

Facts: