2 x empty Hendricks Gin dark cobalt blue bottles. Introduced in 1999.

Sold as good used secondhand condition.

2 empty Hendrick's Cobalt Blue Cork caps, They look brand new. 

 Hendricks Gin was launched by William Grant & Sons at a time when gin wasnt the diverse, thriving category it is today. A clear callback to gins forbears, the apothecary style bottle suggests comparison to Genevers and a time when gin was a medicine. The Edwardian era advertising campaign has helped make the brand a stalwart both in bars and in homes.

A lot of what Hendricks does (and does well) set the stage for some of the contemporary gin fashions we see today. Firstly, process-wise the gin is distilled using a Carter-head still. No longer made, they were built with gin in mind. Botanicals are placed in a copper basket, and the vapor passes through them. Its a very specific kind of gin basket designed by the Carter Brothers 

But they also use a traditional pot still method where botanicals are macerated for 24 hours (all but the  and c) and distilled. Hendricks combines the two, marrying the best of the deeper flavors from the pot still, and the lighter flavor from the Carter-head.

After blending the two distillates, they add rose and cucumber essence before dilution. Its thee two notes that I think make Hendricks standout. Those two notes are the reason why people who might have written off gin as just juniper came back. And I think the popularity of this gin is the reason why distillers have felt emboldened to try wilder and newer things.

But Id be remiss if I let any of that get in the way of it. I still think Hendricks Gin is a well made gin. Worthy for fans of classic gins to dip their toes into the world of contemporary gins, and a good gin to start someone on if theyre unsure of gin.