Our honest review of Hendrick’s Lunar gin

If you know gin, it is very likely you’ve drunk Hendrick’s gin. They are the pioneers of the new gin wave and have no stopped for a second since they become a household name in all the bars around the world.

I still remember trying my first Hendrick’s gin and being wowed, so we thought why not take the leap and try their new Hendrick’s Lunar gin.

This new release has made a big splash in Singapore (where I’m based) and I am sure all over the world. This is a limited small batch release, so make sure to grab one the moment you get a chance.

To help us with this review, we got Hendrick’s Gin ambassador, Charmaine Thio to share some of her insights and thoughts as well to give some flavour and insight into our drinks.

READ MORE: You can also check out our review of the Malfy Gin Con Limone

About Hendrick’s Lunar Gin

Hendrick’s Lunar Gin is a small-batch, limited release gin that offers a smooth and polished finish. It has a strong floral essence, offering a delicate balance of warm baked spices, and is finished with a hint of citrus. It is best enjoyed during casual nights at home and is a curious companion for sundowners and starry nights with friends.

The alcohol review

For a gin review, we usually try to make a night of it, because we use anything as an excuse to celebrate. This was no different and we decided to test it out one evening. As per the usual, we usually pair the gins with a tonic and nothing else in order to keep it simple and also maintain a standard for our reviews.

The team was kind enough to send over some premium tonic and ginger ale – London Essence, so we used that.

First reaction

The first thing that struck me about Hendrick’s Lunar gin, was the strong floral essence. There’s not a ton of information about the botanicals, but I can taste a strong floral essence, as well as a bit of spice. It contrasts quite well, giving the initial taste some ‘zing’.

There are a variety of flavours going on as you drink, but it is the floral essence that stands out.

The taste

I think where the gin would shine most would be in certain cocktails. It has a strong floral finish that lingers and fans of floral gin will really appreciate it. It is a well-balanced gin that brings a lot to the table.

As we continued the drink, the familiar cucumber came out and we started to appreciate the subtle flavours like rose and the juniper of the gin. I might be completely off, but those are the flavours that came out to me.

As a special surprise for our readers, we have a short interview with Charmaine Thio now to give us some insight into the gin and how best it can be enjoyed.

How did you get into being an evangelist or alcohol brand ambassador?

My interest in craft spirits began during my final year in university. I spent a good amount of time writing my thesis in a bar and eavesdropping (unintentionally of course) on conversations that the bartenders were having. I soon caught on to the fact that almost every cocktail that was served and every bottle on the back shelf had its own unique story attached to it.

At that point I was majoring in English Literature and taking a minor in Creative Writing so naturally stories and storytelling were things that drew me in like a moth to a flame. Coupled with my existing interest in food and flavour discovery, delving into the realm of spirits was essentially inevitable.

I decided to properly pursue this combined fascination of stories and spirits by starting my first full-time job out of university at a cocktail bar called 28 HongKong Street (28HKS) back in 2015. Across the 3.5 years that I spent working at 28HKS I’d gotten to know the various brand ambassadors from William Grant & Sons as they would come in for cocktails or to share the stories behind the spirits that I now get to work around every day.

When I heard that the role for the Hendrick’s brand ambassador had opened up I thought that perhaps I’d fit the bill. Love for all things odd and peculiar? Check. Waxes lyrical about spirits all day? Check. Likes cucumbers? Check.

So I spoke to one of the other ambassadors and the next thing you know, here I am, three years in and still joyfully spreading the gospel of gin and cucumbers.

Could you describe Hendrick’s Lunar Gin to someone who has never tasted it before?

Hendrick’s Lunar Gin is an intriguing combination of the refreshing, the warm and the floral. It’s designed to be shared and savoured as the sun goes down and the moon takes centre stage in the sky above.

Ms Lesley Gracie, our esteemed Master Distiller and botanical extraordinaire, describes Hendrick’s Lunar Gin as a feeling: that feeling when it’s a real calm night, there’s a clear sky and the stars are out. With Hendrick’s Lunar Gin there’s the rich aroma of night-scented flowers and in the background a refreshing burst of citrus. It’s not bright and light like the midday sun, it’s calm and chilled and subtle.

There’s something magical about the sky at night and sharing that experience with those closest to you, and this gin wraps up that sensation in a glass.

How should one drink Hendrick’s Lunar Gin in order to get the most out of it?

By sipping a Lunar libation whilst contemplating the wonders of the night sky and basking under the cool light of the moon. As for what this libation should be, a great place to start is to have it in a Lunar & Tonic. It’s a very versatile gin so naturally, it works spectacularly well with gin’s long-time companion, tonic water.

We at Hendrick’s Gin of course garnish all of our gin and tonics with at least one slice of cucumber – however with the Lunar and Tonic we find that combining the curious cucumber garnish with a sprinkle of black pepper really helps to accentuate the warming spices found in Hendrick’s Lunar Gin.

I’ve also recently taken to infusing Hendrick’s Lunar Gin with the energy of the full moon by leaving a bottle out under the moonlight whenever the full moon comes around. I’ve been enjoying my moonlight infused Hendrick’s Lunar Gin in the form of martinis whilst setting and harvesting my intentions throughout the moon cycle.

You could also have one as a little treat after a moonlit meditation or during a moon bathing session.

The upcoming full moon is a Beaver Moon which is great for getting in touch with your senses and for staying grounded in nature so if those are qualities that interest you I’d recommend hurrying out to grab a bottle of Hendrick’s Lunar Gin while the moon is still in its waxing phase.

READ MORE: We talk to Sam Stephens about Asia’s love for wine

What cocktails would you suggest for the gin?

Well, you certainly won’t go wrong with a Lunar & Tonic or a Martini.

Apart from that though, our Moonlight Buck, a stellar combination of Hendrick’s Lunar Gin, ginger ale and lemon juice, is also a delightfully refreshing and easily executable sundowner. (You can find the recipe and instructions here.)

However, if you prefer your cocktails with a little more kick than a buck I’d recommend giving our Starry Old Fashioned a go. Simply stir some Hendrick’s Lunar Gin with a small splash of sugar syrup, 2 dashes of Angostura and Orange Bitters over ice, and garnish it with an orange peel. (The full recipe and instructions are available here.)

In the event, you’ve tried it all and still find yourself wondering what other wonderful ways you can have Hendrick’s Lunar Gin in a cocktail, a great North Star for navigating these types of questions is to go to a cocktail bar that carries Hendrick’s Lunar Gin and let the bartenders be your guide.

If you’re not completely sure where to start, then make a trip down to Smoke & Mirrors (a bar in Singapore) to try their specially crafted selection of Hendrick’s Lunar Gin cocktails that will be available all the way until 29 January. The best part is, a limited-edition moon bathing essentials kit awaits all curious imbibers who order all three special cocktails! While stocks last of course so don’t dally!

We hope you enjoyed this review as much as we enjoyed doing the actual review. For those looking to purchase the gin in Singapore, visit all major online and physical retailers and for orders worldwide, visit their website to find out more.