The much-anticipated travel retail-exclusive Hendrick’s Amazonia is being released at UK airports this month, followed by other markets from 1 April.
It will be accompanied in coming months by a flurry of immersive airport activations designed to bring the gin alive for travellers.
As reported, the 43.4% ABV gin offers a tropical take on the William Grant & Sons brand. It has been inspired by Hendrick’s Master Distiller Lesley Gracie’s audacious adventures in the Amazon.
To celebrate the release of Hendrick’s Amazonia, The Moodie Davitt Report website homepage has had a stunning rainforest-themed remodelling. Look out for an exclusive interview with Lesley Gracie later in the week.
After meeting explorer Charles Brewer-Carías in 2013, Gracie was invited to explore the Venezuelan jungle to explore and experiment with rare tropical botanicals.
Explaining the expedition, Gracie said: “I met this wacky guy and was talking to him about adventures and experimenting with different flavours. He said, if I really wanted to explore new flavours and find new botanicals, I should go to his backyard, which is what he called his home of Venezuela. And some time later we did. It was an amazing trip, really incredible. I can talk your ears off about our adventures in Venezuela: it is the most magnificent place, and our journey was out of this world.
“We stayed with this tribe that Charles knew well and had worked with before. Charles and the local tribesman introduced me to so many new botanicals. We’d trek in the jungle each day, pull off leaves from different plants, then rub them in our hands and smell, as that’s the best way to get a sense of what it might taste like when distilled. We smelled all sorts of weird and wonderful things and did lots of distillation experiments out there in the jungle.”
The journey had such a lasting impact on Gracie that when the Hendrick’s Gin Palace was built in 2018, she insisted on the creation of a tropical hothouse. This has the same heat and humidity as the rainforest and is filled with an array of tropical fruits and floral botanicals.
Hendrick’s Amazonia Gin is a new take on Hendrick’s featuring fresh, vibrant, tropical notes of jungle flora that finely accentuate the signature Hendrick’s combination of cucumber and rose.
Explaining more about the profile of Amazonia, Gracie added: “Our tropical hothouse [at the Hendrick’s Gin Palace] is a flashback to Venezuela; that to me is what the Amazon smells like. Scent is such a powerful sense; it can transport you back to an exact place and time. That’s what the tropical hothouse does to me: when you walk in you get the green and the flowers and immediately, I’m there, I’m back in Venezuela. Hendrick’s Amazonia Gin is based on my memories from that trip to Venezuela; it’s my tribute to the Amazon and my memories of that exciting expedition bottled.”
| Hendrick’s Amazonia serve suggestions Hendrick’s Amazonia & Tonic: Combine 50ml of Hendrick’s Amazonia with 125ml of premium tonic water in a highball glass filled with cubed ice; lightly stir and serve; garnish with cucumber rounds and pineapple leaves Rainforest Fizz: Combine 50ml of Hendrick’s Amazonia with 25ml fresh pineapple juice, 20ml sugar syrup, 20ml lime juice and a top of tonic or soda in a highball glass filled with cubed ice; lightly stir and serve; garnish with pineapple leaves Hendrick’s Amazonia Invigorator: Add 50ml Hendrick’s Amazonia, 50ml coconut water, 25ml of espresso and 5ml of sugar syrup to a shaker and shake over ice; strain into a rocks glass over ice; garnish with an orange twist. |
Speaking about recommended serves for the new expression, Hendrick’s Gin Global Brand Ambassador Ally Martin said: “Hendrick’s Amazonia makes an exceptional alternative G&T. The Hendrick’s Amazonia & Tonic benefits not only from our signature twist of cucumber but also the addition of pineapple leaves to showcase the tropical twist of this unusual elixir.
“Dialling up the tropical notes, a Rainforest Fizz blends Hendrick’s Amazonia Gin with fresh pineapple juice, a touch of sugar and zesty lime juice topped with your choice of tonic or soda. This cocktail will surely extend that holiday feeling.
“A shorter serve for reliving adventurous nights, is the Hendrick’s Amazonia Invigorator. A bracing shot of espresso combines with cooling coconut water, refreshingly tropical Hendrick’s Amazonia Gin and a touch of sugar to be the perfect drink over which to recount travelling adventures.”
To help preserve the inspiration for Amazonia, William Grant & Sons has partnered with One Tree Planted to plant one tree in the Amazon for every bottle of the gin sold. Furthermore, all airport activations will be planned and executed in an environmentally-conscious way.
