Hendrick’s
The Hendrick’s Gin distillery hails from the tiny seaside village of Girvan, on the Ayrshire coast in south-west Scotland. The distillery lies just a mile inland and overlooks the mysterious volcanic island of Ailsa Craig. This alluring outcrop lies uninhabited, save for a few gannets and puffins, but features in many local legends. They use two stills for distilling: a traditional Carter-Head still, and a Bennett still, which is effectively a pot still. Botanicals are steeped in The Bennett overnight prior to distillation, resulting in a rich, complex liquid. Whereas the Carter-Head gently steams the botanicals in a basket atop its lofty neck, so influence is imparted upon the spirit in something akin to a botanical steam bath. This yields a lighter, more delicate spirit. These two are blended together to create Hendrick’s unique gin.