A hand holding a small glass bottle of gin towards the camera in sharp focus against a warm, softly lit background. The bottle has a black wax sealed screw cap and a cream-coloured label reading "HENDRICK'S GIN" in large text at the top, with "DISTILLED AND BOTTLED IN SCOTLAND" in smaller text above, followed by "Grand Cabaret" and "Gin" below. The bottle contains pale golden liquid. The background is deliberately blurred, showing warm amber and yellow lighting from string bulbs, with indistinct figures and pink fabric visible. The overall lighting creates a cosy, intimate atmosphere.
Published in Food
Hendrick's Grand Cabaret Gin
theaardvark

Gin Advent Calendar Day 11: A Genuine Contender

After a run of gins that have been divisive, questionable, or simply required fortification to get through, Day 11 brought something unexpected: universal approval. Today, we tried Hendrick's Grand Cabaret, and it's safe to say the £75 investment is starting to feel very worthwhile.

Both MrsVark and I were genuinely impressed. It's a rare moment of harmony in this Advent calendar journey, and a welcome one.

Watch the video:

Day 11: Hendrick's Grand Cabaret Gin

Gin: Hendrick's Grand Cabaret
ABV: 43.4%
Style: Distilled Gin

Hendrick's is a well-known name, but this "Grand Cabaret" edition is new to us. The internet tells me it promises a "decadent and theatrical" experience inspired by 17th-century Parisian fruit-based drinks; which, naturally, is exactly what every middle-aged British bloke looks for in his gin. It's certainly fruity and botanical with a distinct liquorice note, and a far cry from some of the more... character-building spirits we've experienced.

It's complex without being overpowering, with a smoothness that makes it dangerously drinkable neat. MrsVark was so taken with it that she was willing to risk a delicate stomach for a second taste, which is about the highest praise you can get.

Verdict: This joins the top tier of gins from the calendar so far. It's another one we've both agreed we would actually go out and buy a full bottle of. A clear winner. 9/10.

The Running Tally

  • Day 1 (Sipsmith's): Solid start – 8/10
  • Day 2 (Gordon's Lemon): Cleaning product disaster – 2/10
  • Day 3 (Tanqueray): Respectable recovery – 7/10
  • Day 4 (Darnley's Navy Strength): Quality gin, questionable timing – 7/10
  • Day 5 (Moonshot Gin): A low-energy but decent gin – 7/10
  • Day 6 (Edinburgh Raspberry): A house divided – 7.5/10
  • Day 7 (Tanqueray Blackcurrant): Solidly mid-range – 6/10
  • Day 8 (Bathtub Gin): Excellent – 9/10
  • Day 9 (Boatyard Sloe Gin): A triumph – 9/10
  • Day 10 (Greater Than Gin): Solidly average – 7/10
  • Day 11 (Hendrick's Grand Cabaret): A resounding success – 9/10

Success Rate: 90.9% (ten successes, one miss)

The Calendar: Drinks by the Dram Gin Advent Calendar
Previous days: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Days 7, 8 & 9 | Day 10

Ten empty small glass bottles of gin arranged in a row on a dark wooden surface, flanked by two white decorative busts. From left to right, the bottles read: "DRINKS BY THE DRAM Sipsmith Raffles 1915 Gin", "DRINKS BY THE DRAM Gordon's Sicilian Lemon Gin", "Tanqueray London Dry Gin", "DRINKS BY THE DRAM Darnley's Navy Strength - Spiced London Dry Gin", "THAT BOUTIQUE-Y GIN COMPANY Moonshot Gin London Dry Gin", "EDINBURGH GIN Raspberry Gin", "Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale Gin", "Bathtub Gin", "DRINKS BY THE DRAM Boatyard Sloe Boat Sloe Gin", and "HENDRICK'S GIN Grand Cabaret Gin". Each bottle has a black screw cap and cream-coloured label. Behind the bottles are three framed photographs: on the left, an ornate dark wooden oval frame containing the 25-year-old photograph of an 8-year-old girl with a crown and a woman in a wide-brimmed hat, both wearing red; in the centre-right, a light blue rectangular frame showing two people in formal dress in a garden setting, one wearing a burgundy ball gown. The two white ceramic looking busts on either end of the display depict classical-style female figures, both giving the middle finger salute. The scene is set against a cream textured wall.

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