Hendrick's
Girvan, Scotland
Distilled in tiny Carter-head and Bennett stills, then infused with cucumber and rose essences after distillation. The post-distillation essences are why some drinkers react to Hendrick's specifically.
- Ingredients / botanicals
- juniper, coriander, angelica, orris, citrus peel, cubeb, caraway, chamomile, elderflower, cucumber, rose
- Congeners
- Low
- Histamines
- Low
- Polyphenols
- Moderate
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Very Low
- Sugar
- Very Low
- Additives
- Low
- Calories
- 101
- Sugar
- 0g
14.5g ethanol at 41.4% ABV. No sugar, so every calorie here is alcohol.
In its favor
- ✓Distinctive, low alcohol burn
- ✓Small-batch production
What to watch
- !Post-distillation rose/cucumber essence may trigger histamine reactions
- !Heavier botanical load
Factor by factor
Congeners Low ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Low ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Moderate ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Very Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Very Low ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Very Low ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Low ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Hendrick’s reputation as a “smooth” gin obscures that it carries more botanical-derived compounds than a London Dry. Most people are fine; histamine-sensitive drinkers sometimes aren’t.
Hendrick's questions
How many calories are in a shot of Hendrick's? ▾
About 101 calories in a 1.5oz shot at 41.4% ABV. All of them come from the alcohol, since there is no sugar.
Does Hendrick's have sugar? ▾
No. Hendrick's has 0g of sugar per 1.5oz serving.
Is Hendrick's gluten-free? ▾
Not by label. Hendrick's is distilled from a gluten-containing grain, so US rules bar it from claiming gluten-free. Distillation does remove the gluten protein, and the Celiac Disease Foundation considers distilled spirits safe for most coeliacs. If you would rather avoid the question, pick a spirit distilled from corn, potato, grape or agave.
What proof is Hendrick's? ▾
Hendrick's is 82.8 proof, which is 41.4% alcohol by volume.
Does Hendrick's give you a bad hangover? ▾
Hendrick's scores 3/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 3/10 for gin overall. It is low on every hangover factor we track, so most of the morning after comes down to how much ethanol you drink.
Is Hendrick's vegan? ▾
Yes. Hendrick's is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.