VinePair gives it 93 points; The GIN is IN gives it 4.5 and recommends it for a gin and tonic and a negroni, but is tougher on Neptunia
Hendrick's is a Scottish gin from William Grant & Sons, made at the Girvan distillery, in Ayrshire. According to Difford's Guide, it was created in 1999, reached the United States in 2000 and the United Kingdom in 2003. It uses 11 botanicals, including juniper, angelica, coriander, cubeb, orris root, chamomile, caraway, elderflower, meadowsweet, and lemon and orange peel. It is distilled in two different stills, a Bennett copper pot still and a Carter-Head; the two distillates are blended and only then receive the rose and cucumber essences. We gathered what named critics and guides have published about it.
At VinePair, critic Tim McKirdy gave Hendrick's 93 points, in a June 2021 review, with a price of US$33 in the United States and 41.4% ABV. For him, the gin was a turning point for the category since its debut, with its old apothecary-style bottle, and the cucumber and rose move it away from the classic London Dry style toward a fresher, more floral profile. McKirdy considers it easy to drink and high in quality.
Aaron Knoll, founder of the site The GIN is IN, gave it a 4.5 and rated it recommended. On the nose, he points to juniper, rose, sweet orange, lime zest, a touch of elderflower and pine. On the palate, the classic base of angelica, coriander, juniper and orris root, with citrus in the middle and black pepper at the end. The finish is long, with juniper bitterness, rose petal, lime, cucumber and Earl Grey tea. Knoll recommends Hendrick's above all in a gin and tonic and a negroni. He acknowledges that some people are tired of the brand's marketing, but says the gin is still worth trying. The American version is 44% ABV; the one sold in the UK, 41.4%.
Difford's Guide, in a May 2016 tasting, describes a crystal-clear gin with a nose of pine, eucalyptus, juniper, lime marmalade and floral, spicy notes. On the palate, it is slightly sweet and silky, with juniper and citrus, followed by cumin, black pepper and licorice. The guide sums it up as clean, balanced and herbal, in the London Dry style, with subtle cucumber and rose.
The GIN is IN was tougher on Hendrick's Neptunia, the version with sea kelp: a 3.5. The review describes a citrusy, saline nose with kelp and chamomile, and a mix of notes that, in the site's view, can feel unbalanced and is hard to mix. Its suggestion is to serve it with soda water.
For a gin and tonic, the Bebidário catalog has Schweppes Tonic; for a negroni, Campari.
Sources: VinePair (June 30, 2021), The GIN is IN (accessed October 13, 2026), Difford's Guide (May 30, 2016).
