Hendrick's Grand Cabaret Gin (70cl, 43.4%)

A limited gin creation by Master Distiller Lesley Gracie, part of the Cabinet of Curiosities. It builds on the Hendrick's house style of eleven distilled botanicals plus rose and cucumber, adding a pronounced stone-fruit aroma, with fruit depth combined with the fresh cucumber note. The inspiration came from historical fruit spirits, especially a stone-fruit eau-de-vie popular with Parisian society in the early 20th century, combined with a little gin and rose scent; aromatic herbs round off the fruit without displacing the refreshing lightness. It is bottled in Scotland at 43.4% in a 70cl bottle. The nose shows fresh apricots and sweet peaches, with a fine rose note and some juniper. The palate opens with juniper, orange, lemon and peach, then apricots and rich plum notes, accompanied by floral and herbal accents. The medium-length finish leaves stone-fruit notes of cherry and apricot, with delicate elderflower and a mild pepper note.