By Andy Young
Hendrick’s Gin is synonymous with the cucumber, so much so that the company has created Australia’s first.
The new ‘Unusually Australian Cucumber’ will be incorporated into cocktails at select bars across Australia from December until the end of January, 2017.
Speaking about the new specimen, a spokesperson for Hendrick’s told TheShout: “The Unusually Australian Cucumber has a fantastic fresh crispness to it, it's the most cucumbery cucumber you can taste.
“While the cucumber garnish obviously helps showcase the odd infusion of cucumber in Hendrick's Gin, a distinct sweetness of the Unusually Australian Cucumber helps bring out the floral notes of the elderflower and yarrow botanicals.”
Created in a greenhouse in Cobbitty, NSW, by the University of Sydney and Abundant Produce experts, the cucumber was officially unveiled last week at an event at Elizabeth Bay House in NSW, which celebrated all things Hendrick’s and cucumber.
In terms of servings, Hendrick's Gin Brand Ambassador Morgan Flanagan said it is a perfect pairing to a "Hendrick's Gin and Tonic under the Australian sun". However Flanagan did reveal to TheShout, several other cocktails for serving the Unusually Australian Cucumber.
Sunburnt Fix
45ml Hendrick's Gin
30ml Lime
10ml Sugar Syrup
60ml Mango Nectar
3 Unusually Austalian Cucumber slices
Muddle cucumber, lime and sugar together in a highball glass. Add Hendrick's Gin and Mango Nectar. Fill Glass with ice and top with Sparkling Mineral Water. Garnish with a slice of Unusually Australian Cucumber.
Eastern Standard
45ml Hendrick's Gin
4 Unusually Australian Cucumber Slices
30ml Lime
15ml Eucalyptus Syrup
Shake all ingredients together over ice, fine strain into a lovely coupette. Garnish with an Unusually Australian Cucumber Slice and a Eucalyptus Leaf
Dawes 42
30ml Hendrick's Gin
30ml Unusually Australian Cucumber Juice
30ml Lemon Myrtle Cordial
Build all in champagne flute, top with sparkling wine and a piece of Unusually Australian Cucumber and cracked black pepper.
The Unusually Australian Cucumbers will be delivered to interested venues throughout December and January; any venues interested in the cucumber should contact Flanagan, at morgan.flanagan@wgrant.com.