Hendrick's Grand Cabaret Gin

Hendrick's Grand Cabaret Gin. Hendrick's Gin Palace, Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland — the fifth Cabinet of Curiosities release, inspired by the stone fruit spirits and eau de vie traditions of fashionable Paris in the early 1900s.

Lesley Gracie, Hendrick's Master Distiller, found her inspiration for Grand Cabaret in historical recipes from turn-of-the-century Parisian celebrations — where eau de vie, peach schnapps, cherry liqueurs, and distilled stone fruit spirits were the fashionable drinks of those who could afford to celebrate in style. Gracie experimented with introducing stone fruit character into gin's botanical framework, finding that the flavors produced a vivid, layered effect when set against Hendrick's signature rose and cucumber base. The exact botanicals remain undisclosed — as is Hendrick's tradition with Cabinet of Curiosities releases — but the stone fruit profile is unmistakably prominent from nose to finish.

Grand Cabaret is among the boldest and most distinctive expressions in the Cabinet of Curiosities lineup: vibrant, fruity, and slightly sweet, with a stone fruit intensity that some reviewers have compared to fruit-forward cocktails in their own right. Its lush fruit character is best channeled into simple long drinks — G&T with light tonic and fruit garnish, soda and lime, or the signature Grand Cabaret Royale (cranberry, lime, simple syrup, and sparkling wine).

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Immediately and powerfully fruit-forward — fresh peach, apricot, cherry, and a hint of passion fruit leap from the glass. Rose scents and subtle elderflower tie back to the classic Hendrick's DNA. Lightly candy-like.
• Palate: Lush and fruit-driven. Peach, sweet orange, and lemon open, with the mid-palate exploding into stone fruits — honey, apricot, and mirabelle plum. Rich dried cherries develop alongside chamomile, elderflower, and juniper. Slightly sweet overall but not cloying.
• Finish: Long and only mildly warm. Elderflower, dried apricot, and peppery cubeb linger. A greenish herbaceousness from juniper and cucumber finally emerges to provide balance.

Specs

• Distillery: Hendrick's Gin Palace, Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland
• Style: Scottish Distilled Gin — Cabinet of Curiosities Limited Release (5th edition)
• Inspiration: Parisian eau de vie and stone fruit spirits, early 1900s
• ABV: 43.4% (86.8 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

Browse our full selection of gin at Wooden Cork, including the full Hendrick's range.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Hendrick's Grand Cabaret taste like? Powerfully fruit-forward — fresh peach, apricot, cherry, and passion fruit on the nose. The palate explodes with stone fruits including honey, mirabelle plum, and dried cherries, supported by elderflower and juniper. The finish is long with elderflower, dried apricot, and cubeb pepper.
• What inspired Hendrick's Grand Cabaret? Lesley Gracie was captivated by historical recipes for stone fruit spirits — eau de vie, peach schnapps, and cherry liqueurs — that were fashionable at Parisian celebrations in the early 1900s. She experimented with layering these fruit characters onto Hendrick's signature gin base.
• Is Grand Cabaret sweeter than regular Hendrick's? Yes — it is noticeably fruitier and slightly sweeter than the original, though the sweetness comes from the botanicals rather than added sugar. Juniper and cucumber are present but secondary to the stone fruit profile.
• What cocktails is Grand Cabaret best in? Best in simple long drinks where the fruit can take center stage — a G&T with light tonic and a fruit garnish, soda and lime, or the Grand Cabaret Royale (cranberry, lime, simple syrup, sparkling wine). Avoid in a Martini where the fruit profile can overwhelm.
• Is Grand Cabaret a limited release? Yes — it is the fifth expression in the Hendrick's Cabinet of Curiosities limited edition series, which releases one expression at a time.