Infused with Bulgarian rose and cucumber in a remote Scottish distillery, a most unusual spirit known as Hendricks’s Gin has been introducing many to a floral bouquet of flavours since 1999. Fresh and a fast favourite with those new to the Gin market, this apothecary-dressed spirit is best appreciated straight with tonic – topped with nothing other than a fresh slice of cucumber.
Truly, a good old Gin and Tonic is one of the greatest marriages in the cocktail world. It can only get better, and, thanks to Master Distiller at Hendrick’s, Lesley Gracie, it has.
The Quinine Cordial, Quinetum
After spending years experimenting with her love of botanicals, she has perfected a new cordial, the Quinetum. A delightful mixture of quinine with lavender, orange distillates, extracts of orange blossom, wormwood and holy thistle, this final product of 4% ABV presents a bitter, strong flavour that is more than just a new accompaniment to its gin. It will take your Hendrick’s Gin cocktails to a whole new level.
Early this year, this curious Quinetum reached our shores. In its most Victorian-esque manner, it unveiled itself in a vessel modelled after a 1940s poison bottle discovered in an old London bric-a-brac shop, with a refurbished theatre tucked away in the nondescript Golden Mile Tower as its backdrop. There, selected bartenders of Singapore were gifted with bottles of this 4000-bottle-only production specifically to push the boundaries of Hendricks with new, peculiar cocktail creations using the cordial.
A Cordial Affair with William Grant & Sons
I sat down with William Grant & Sons’ regional representative, Zhi, to learn more about this curious cordial shrouded in exclusivity.
How did Lesley come up with the winning combination for the Quinetum?
Three years ago we began a journey to find the perfect tonic to complement Hendrick’s Gin. The first product was sent off to bartenders in the region, where Lesley then took the feedback to eventually create the Quinetum.
The bartenders played an important role in the R&D?
From the start, Lesley wanted to be make a product to be used by the bartenders. It only made sense to work with the people at the frontlines; the people with the palette to make new, innovative drinks with the Quinetum.
With only 4,000 bottles available worldwide, and no news of a second production, there has been quite a buzz about how premium it is. Just how many bars in the world/region will/already have the Quinetum?
Early 2014, we started the global launch in the west. For a simple reason of how popular Hendrick’s Gin has been in the region for the last 10 to 15 years. The brand ambassadors there are also strong influencers in the market, and help spread the Quinetum further in Europe, like Spain.
As for South East Asia, we were allocated 180 bottles, with 60 bottles for Singapore. We have already launched in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, but a certain amount has been kept behind. Depending on the feedback from the bartenders in the region, we might gift them another – for “experimenting”.
Bangkok and KL?
We based it off the bar culture in the region. They are really into the night life, and the bar scene is really shaping up in terms of their concept and décor. We got together the top bartenders from each for the launch; 12 in Bangkok and 5 in KL. We actually had to leave aside a lot more for Singapore as there is just so much going on now back at home!
So, where can we look forward to seeing the Quinetum next?
China and, perhaps, the Philippines; because they know their alcohol well. Especially with the Philippines, their palette is used to Hendrick’s and Tonic. Giving them the Quinetum will definitely spark off some creativity.
Any idea when?
There’s no fixed timeline of where and when the cordial would be launch, but more on “have we built the scene enough with the bartenders” or “do consumers already know about Hendrick’s Gin”. The Quinetum is for enhancing the Hendrick’s Gin experience, and that is most important.
This is related to how Hendrick’s became more popular in Singapore in the last 2 years or so?
Yes, we actually started our South East Asian Headquarters then. It started out with only a few bars carrying our Gin and was very difficult to find. Thankfully, DFS helped kicked off the demand.
Now it is even in the supermarkets!
During the launch, we were introduced to two new cocktails created by Steve (Tess Bar & Kitchen) and Jeremie (Jekyll & Hyde). Could you tell our readers more about it?
Prior to the launch, about two weeks before, we sent Zack (Zachary Connor de Git, William Grant & Sons Regional Portfolio Ambassador) on an errand. The bartenders were given the brief on what the Quinetum is and it was pretty much free reign from there. These guys are really creative, and the whole idea was to see what these experts in the industry could do with the liquid!
Even though the basis of the Quinetum was to enhance the usual Gin and Tonic, Jeremie did an amazingly job giving us an unexpected Asian twist of Bandung in the drink.
They are using similar ingredients, but the cocktails were their creations. We saw a cocktail similar to a negroni – Hendrick’s, Campari and Salt/Pepper – with the Quinetum. The liquid is very versatile while balanced, which really gives the bartenders an open space to play around with.
Shall we talk more about the design of the bottle? You guys almost broke our Instagram when we posted the unboxing video of the Quinetum!
Looking at Hendrick’s Gin, it already has the appearance of an apothecary bottle. When it was first launched, we were the pioneers in the premium Gin category – so, we went with the idea of protecting this premium liquid like medicine bottles back in the day. We continued this theme with the Quinetum.
But, it did not move forward until one of our ambassadors actually found a 1940s poison bottle in a London bric-and-brac shop. We took inspiration from the very bottle. The Quinetum bottle has the exact same shape.
And the box?
The “book” is actually a South East Asian production. You know how we’ve seen movies where there are secret tunnel switches in the book shelves or guns hidden inside a faux book, we took those ideas and translated them into this box.
It was very James Bond-like of you guys! I thought these were mere decorations during the launch.
It added that element of surprise. Even the guys back at Global HQ loved it. Hendrick’s is, you know, a little bit unusual.
After hearing so much about the Quinetum, the big questions is – where can we try it?
Where Steve and Jeremie are for sure. They also have more bottles, so there’s a higher chance for you to try it at their bars!
If you had to choose between the two?
Actually, out of all the countries, I think Steve had the best concept. He took the inspiration of the drink from Singapore – Goodbye Momo as in Mosquitoes (quinine was drank by Europeans to avoid mosquito bites). It was a simple mix of Hendrick’s, the Quinetum topped with Ginger Beer that added a spiciness to the bitter and citrus notes of the cordial.
He even put the packaging in a Vacuum Pack!
I would give credit to the NS Men who had to go through the outdoor training camp, and got bitten by a lot of mosquitoes. I thought it was hilarious!
The reception for the Quinetum was great. There is no doubt there will be a demand for it. So, will there be a second production, and will we see it on shelves one day?
This will be a continuation of what Lesley was doing back in Scotland. We will be gathering the feedback from all over the globe, including the South East Asian market. But, what happens from then on is really on Lesley. Whether there will be a second production, and if the next production will be the exact same liquid or an improvement with the feedback, I cannot say for sure. Regardless, the whole idea was to create a complement to Hendrick’s Gin, and that goal will not change.
I love the idea that each batch could be a different concoction from the next, where it just gets better and better.
Like, the next two should have different elements to spark off even more imagination!
About the Writer
Jessica is a young lady of many obsessions. She gets herself into everything ranging from the latest in the monochrome fashion world (she only wears black, and sometimes, white) to convincing the masses that Community is the best TV series ever made.
Currently, she enjoys looking like Sailor Mercury had a baby with Wednesday Addams.
