Hendrick’s Recipe

Cocktail

1. 1

   Prepare glass

   Chill a coupe or martini glass by filling it with ice and cold water while you make the cocktail, or place it in the freezer for 10 minutes.

2. 2

   Muddle cucumber

   Place one cucumber ribbon in the shaker (reserve one for garnish). Gently muddle 1–2 times to release aroma and a little juice — do not pulverize; you want light cucumber perfume, not pulp.

3. 3

   Combine ingredients

   Add Hendrick's Gin (2 oz), fresh lemon juice (0.75 oz), simple syrup (0.5 oz) and dry vermouth (0.25 oz, optional) into the shaker with the muddled cucumber. Add plenty of ice to the shaker.

4. 4

   Shake

   Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the outside of the shaker becomes frosty and the mixture is well chilled and slightly diluted.

5. 5

   Strain

   Discard ice/water from the chilled glass. Double strain the cocktail into the chilled glass using a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer to catch cucumber bits and ice shards.

6. 6

   Garnish and serve

   Twist the lemon peel over the drink to express oils, rub it around the rim if desired, and drop it in. Float the reserved cucumber ribbon on the surface or thread it on a cocktail pick. Serve immediately.

7. 7

   Notes

   Hendrick's is cucumber- and rose-forward; avoid heavy sweeteners. Omit the vermouth if you prefer a cleaner gin-and-lemon profile. For a longer, lower-ABV version, build over ice in a highball and top with soda water (to taste).