A great example of how flavors of gin can vary exists within Hendrick's and their Cabinet of Curiosities.  While all Hendrick's gins are infused with rose and cucumber, their Master Distiller has created a vast collection of gins using different herbs and botanicals.

Grand Cabaret is a limited release gin from Hendrick's and the newest offering from their Cabinet of Curiosities line.  Available for sampling by request at our North Attleboro tasting center, the aroma of stone fruits - possibly peach or apricot - is evident from the initial pour.  This is a very floral gin with notes of sweet herbs and has a pleasant slight sweetness.  While Hendrick's does offer a Royale cocktail recipe on the back of the bottle, I would suggest trying this with a splash of soda or tonic and a few slices of cucumber, allowing the flavors of the gin to really shine.

Hendrick's Original Gin is an exquisitely smooth gin infused with 11 unusual botanicals - including the requisite juniper as well as chamomile, elderflower, and yarrow root, for a few.  Through their process of distilling two separate gins and marrying them just before infusing with rose and cucumber, this gin retains the complex flavor profile created by the botanicals while still tasting light and refreshing.  

Hendrick's Cucumber Collins

Ingredients:

2 oz Hendrick’s gin

1 oz fresh cucumber juice (from 1/2 blended cucumber, strained)

1/4 oz lemon juice

1/2 oz simple syrup

Sparkling water

Lemon twist, for garnish

Cucumber slice, for garnish

Combine first five ingredients in chilled Collins glass with ice. Pour into cocktail shaking tin. Pour back into Collins glass. Top with sparkling water, garnish with a twist of lemon and cucumber slice.