Introducing Hendrick's Gin Cocktails!

I had an incredible experience last night. I set out to two communities in Seattle to gather information for a website that I am currently working on. 

After completing my research I decided to drop by the Kathy Casey Food Studio in Ballard, WA, to see Kathy.

I really lucked in! Upon arrival at the Studio, Kathy and her staff greeted me warmly and she invited me to stay for a Hendrick's Gin cocktail demonstration event. 

A videographer interviewed me soon as I received and tasted Hendrick's Gin for the first time. I was surprisingly calm and gave good feedback about my first impression like an expert food critic. I hardly ever drink alcoholic beverages so I am not an authority on the subject. A very occasional glass of wine is my drink of choice!

I learned quite a lot about gin and mixology during the event. I can now shake and pour a cocktail like a true mixologist. 

I learned that the secret ingredient that gives gin its peculiar fragrance is juniper berry. However, Henckel's Gin which is distilled in Ayrshire, Scotland has a particularly unique flavor that is distinct from other gins. In addition to juniper berries and cucumber, Hendrick's Gin's distiller or "stillman" blends and infuses 11 botanicals including caraway seeds, elderflower, chamomile, orange and lemon peel, coriander, rose petals and various roots in small batches to create Hendrick's Gin's unique flavor.

To enhance the Hendrick's Gin cocktail, one has to layer it with the some of the original ingredients in the drink such as lemon juice, elderflower liquer, and cucumber. We noticed that adding a slice of cucumber to the cocktail significantly mellowed out the cocktail

[Please note -- if you decide to add mint, basil and other herbs and fruit juices to a Hendrick's Gin cocktail make it real subtle. Neither of these herbs is included in the blend of botanicals that flavor Hendrick's Gin so a subtle and very light treatment is the way to go. The basic rule of thumb is to respect the efforts of the distiller and refrain from adding ingredients that overwhelm the flavors that the distiller has so carefully blended.]

For the last cocktail, we added a splash of orange bitters and a dry sparkling wine to the Hendrick's Gin. I showed the guests at my table how to gently swirl their drink in order to volatize and inhale the "esters" -- a wine snob term that I learned from a Sommelier at the former Christian Brothers' Winery in Napa Valley.

 

After the demonstration event, the videographer interviewed us again as we were munching on a delectable spread of hors d'oeuvres that Kathy and her staff had laid out for us. We discussed which of the Hendrick's Gin cocktails had made the most impression on each of us -- most agreed that the cocktail with Elderflower liquer and a slice of cucumber was the one that they liked the most. To be honest, after two cocktails I probably added more syrup to my last cocktail than I should have so it was the one I liked the most! 

We also discussed the possibility of using Hendrick's Gin in cooking like we would wine or beer. I think true Hendrick's Gin connoisseurs would probably faint if they had heard our plan to use Hendrick's Gin for cooking! However, I think it would be cool to add it to my Zesty Spice Cake!

After three or more cocktails, all present agreed that it would make sense for me to open an African Restaurant here in Seattle. Apparently, there is a three-day test restaurant that one can operate to gauge interest and attract investors. I suggest that we re-evaluate the African Restaurant proposition when the effect of the Hendrick's Gin has completely worn off!

Here is a great review of Hendrick's Gin: http://www.liquorsnob.com/archives/2006/01/hendricks_gin_review_wake_up_and_smell_the_roses.php

Hendrick's Gin Cocktail Recipes: http://www.hendricksgin.com/#/us/treasury/ 

BTW, you would need a good cocktail mixing set to measure, mix and pour a great cocktail. If you don't have one just improvise!

So folks, you just might see a video of me on the Hendrick's Gin website -- espousing about the finer aspects of Hendrick's Gin cocktails!


Warning: Drink responsibly! Don't drink and drive and don't drink, if you are pregnant!