Hendricks Gin 1L

Hendrick's Gin 1L is a Scottish small-batch gin bottled at 41.4% ABV in a distinctive 1-liter apothecary-style bottle. Named "Best Gin in the World" by the Wall Street Journal in 2003 and awarded Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in both 2010 and 2012, Hendrick's distinguished itself from the category by infusing Bulgarian rose petals and Dutch cucumber into the final spirit — a step that redefined what modern gin could taste like.

Quick Facts: ABV: 41.4%  |  Origin: Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland  |  Style: Small-Batch Botanical Gin  |  Distillery: Girvan Distillery

Production & Heritage

Hendrick's is produced at the Girvan distillery in South Ayrshire, Scotland, using a highly unusual dual-distillation method. A Bennett still built in 1860 and a Carter-Head still constructed in 1948 each distill the spirit separately with a base of wheat neutral alcohol hydrated to 60% ABV. The two distillates are then married together. Eleven botanicals — juniper, coriander, orange peel, lemon peel, angelica root, orris root, cubeb berries, caraway seeds, chamomile, elderflower, and yarrow berries — form the aromatic backbone. What truly sets Hendrick's apart is the post-distillation infusion: essences of Bulgarian Damascena rose petals (pressed to release oil dissolved with alcohol) and Dutch cucumbers (mashed and cold-extracted at zero degrees Celsius) are added after distillation in batches of just 500 litres at a time.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Big, creamy aromas open with zesty citrus and assertive juniper before giving way to rose petal jelly and cool cucumber. Chamomile and elderflower linger softly underneath, adding a delicate herbaceous layer.

Taste: The palate entry is clean and superbly balanced, with fresh juniper leading into soaked rose petal, Persian cucumber, and a whisper of Earl Grey tea at mid-palate. Green herbal notes and warm spice — caraway and cubeb — build toward a surprising, pleasant bitterness that keeps the sweetness in check. The mouthfeel is notably round and creamy for a gin at 41.4%.

Finish: Medium-length and meandering, with floral rose and dried spice lingering alongside a cooling cucumber freshness. The finish resolves cleanly, leaving behind subtle juniper and citrus peel.

How to Drink Hendrick's

Hendrick's rewards a simple serve: pour over ice in a copa glass, top with premium tonic water, and garnish with a thin cucumber slice rather than the traditional lime. Sipping it neat at room temperature also reveals the full complexity of the rose and cucumber infusion. Three cocktails that showcase this gin particularly well: a Gin & Tonic, where the cucumber-rose profile plays beautifully against quinine's bitterness; a French 75, where the floral notes complement champagne's effervescence; and a Tom Collins, where the gin's creamy body and citrus aromatics hold up against lemon juice and soda without losing character.

Best For

• Introducing someone to gin who typically dislikes juniper-heavy styles
• Hosting a summer garden party with gin-forward cocktails
• Gifting a spirits enthusiast who values unusual production methods
• Building a well-rounded home bar with a modern gin benchmark

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hendrick's taste like? Hendrick's is a clean, well-balanced gin led by juniper, with distinctive notes of cool cucumber, rose petal, citrus, and Earl Grey tea. A subtle bitterness and warm spice round out the profile, making it notably smooth and floral compared to most London Dry styles.

How does Hendrick's compare to Bombay Sapphire? Bombay Sapphire leans toward a lighter, more citrus- and coriander-driven profile at 47% ABV, while Hendrick's (41.4% ABV) is creamier and more floral thanks to its post-distillation cucumber and rose infusion. The dual-still production at Hendrick's also creates a rounder mouthfeel compared to Bombay Sapphire's single vapour-infusion method.

Is Hendrick's good for cocktails? Hendrick's works exceptionally well in cocktails, particularly those that benefit from floral and herbaceous gins — its cucumber and rose notes add complexity to a Gin & Tonic, French 75, or Gimlet without overpowering other ingredients.

Where is Hendrick's made? Hendrick's is distilled at the Girvan distillery in South Ayrshire, Scotland, using a pair of rare antique stills — an 1860 Bennett pot still and a 1948 Carter-Head still — that produce two distinct distillates blended together in each batch.

What foods pair well with Hendrick's? Smoked salmon and cucumber canapés echo the gin's signature botanical; fresh goat cheese salads complement its floral character; light sushi and sashimi work alongside the clean cucumber profile; lemon tarts mirror the citrus aromatics; and herb-crusted grilled chicken pairs well with the juniper and caraway spice notes.

What sizes does Hendrick's come in? Hendrick's is widely available in 750ml, 1L, and 1.75L formats, with 50ml miniatures also commonly found.

Is Hendrick's worth the price? Hendrick's positions as a premium gin — above everyday mixing gins but well within reach for regular enjoyment. Its small-batch production (500 litres per batch), dual-still process, and post-distillation infusion justify its premium-tier pricing, and its competition record at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition supports its standing as a benchmark in modern gin.

Why Hendrick's?

Few gins can claim to have genuinely shifted how an entire category is perceived. By combining two antique stills — each over 70 years old — and infusing cucumber and rose after distillation in 500-litre batches, Hendrick's created a flavour profile that simply did not exist in mainstream gin before its launch. Its track record backs this up: Double Gold medals at the 2010 and 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a 92-point rating from Wine Enthusiast confirm it is not just novel but genuinely well-made. The 1L format provides strong value for a gin that performs equally well neat, on the rocks, or at the centre of a thoughtfully built cocktail.