Something a little more Refined

At last, a little refined instruction is coming to the classes convict cesspool that is Sydney’s Eastern suburbs.

Hendricks Gin is bringing some of it quirky marketing experience to the general public. The brand is known for breaking step with the rest and happily expounding a nineteenth century weltanschauung for a twenty first century world, Sydneysiders will have a chance to experience both the brand ideal and some old worldy charm for the last three days at the end of this week.

Press release follows:

WHAT:

A new service offering etiquette tips to both singletons and couples looking to woo potential suitors and develop their relationships with a level of decorum that will make those Victorian-era principles proud. The Hendrick’s Refined Courtship Clinic is a public drop-in surgery, run by Dr Humphrey SixWivs and Mrs Isabella Forlornicate in Sydney’s vivacious Paddington.

 

Hendrick’s Clinicians will be offering 1-2-1 advice, free of charge, on all matters from polite body language to acceptable topics of conversation and procedures of courtship to reading signals from a lady’s fan movements. The clinic will also offer tips on a most unusual, yet wonderfully eccentric, way of the basics of chivalry for gentleman and advice on general appearance for ladies.

 

WHY:

In a day when public displays of affection from one to another – wolf-whistles, forthright chat-up lines and robust embracing – are often perceived as vulgar or inappropriate, the Hendrick’s Refined Courtship Clinic will educate that the route to success is through good manners and etiquette when courting. It was author Og Mandino that once said: “I seek constantly to improve my manners and graces, for they are the sugar to which all are attracted.”

 

WHERE:

387 Oxford Street, Paddington, Sydney 2021.

 

Hendrick’s Refined Courtship Clinic. The surgery is a beacon of promise amongst the frightfully explicit protrusions of the area, in Sydney’s buzzing Paddington.

 

WHEN:

Public opening on the following dates –

 

Thursday, 23^rd of June (2pm-8pm); Friday, 24^th June (2pm-8pm); Saturday 23^rd of June (12pm-8pm)

 

 

Sneaky Little Tastes

I got to try a spoonful of the good juju last night. A bottle of Hendricks Tonic Cordial manufactured by the eponymous maker of rosey, cucumberous Gin. Photographic evidence is proving hard to come by, and I’m beginning to think it doesn’t really exist. Thanks Marty.

The bottle is filled with a fine syrup, flavored with lavender, cinchona (the white, powdered bark of a Peruvian tree.) and bitter orange.

Beautifully labelled, with a recipe for a Hendricks and Tonic, calling for 50 milliliters of Hendricks Gin, 25 milliliters Tonic Cordial and 100 milliliters soda water, the bottle appears to be somewhat of a rarity.

I believe it was purloined from one who slay the Jabberwock. You, obviously, can believe what you will.

More images after the jump.

Hendrick’s Gin – It’s very special.

A gin that’s not for everyone the little label on the neck of this dark, squat and frankly medicinal looking bottle. Hendrick’s offers an unusual addition of cucumber and rose to the traditional British recipe. Perhaps it would be more at home in a Persian pantaloon convention, if it wasn’t for the fact that this little tweak, coupled with the use of a very special still makes a Gin that just works.

Fragrant and soft martinis, surprisingly refreshing gins and tonic, all garnished with a slice of cucumber that screams “look at me! I’m different!”

Anyway, seriously, more inconoclastic than Scotland’s own John Knox. Go and get yourself a bottle today and make:

A Punch and Judy.

INGREDIENTS: 1 oz Martell VSOP, ¼ oz Old New Orleans Crystal Rum, ½ oz Hendrick’s Gin, ½ oz Bols Orange Curacao, 2 oz Pineapple Juice, ½ oz Freshly squeezed lime juice, ½ oz orange juice, ½ oz Partida agave nectar, 2 dashes Angostura bitters, 4 mint leaves. PREPARATION: Assemble ingredients in a mixing glass with as much love and interest that is healthy (that is to say not in a obsessive fashion but certain passionate and perhaps as if you were preparing the drink for someone you respect, admire and love in a plutonic fashion) – no need to muddle the mint, just throw it in- shake properly (hard) and strain over fresh ice in a highball glass.

 

 Cut a thinly sliced lime wheel and place on top of the Punch and Judy; add a hearty sprinkle of ground nutmeg directly on the lime wheel fresh from the “nut” with a small grater or using already ground nutmeg from a small shaker.

This rather complicated cocktail is the first of a series which I will appropriate from Dale De Grof, the King of the Cocktail, and maker of extremely fine Irish Coffees.