69. Hendricks Gin

When the sun finally crosses the yard-arm, and particularly in the summer months, a writer's thoughts often turn to the Vodka/Gin axis. Vodka is clean, pure, the better-off alcoholic's choice. Gin, as we all know from bitter experience, isn't called Mother's Ruin for nowt. Anyway...

A few years ago a friend brought a bottle of Hendricks gin to an 'all-white' drinks party I was giving, and when we'd all stopped feeling very ill indeed from drastic over-consumption of champagne (I know, boo hoo) I gave it a go. And then it became very difficult to imagine drinking any other brand. It's minty, you see, junipery, somehow more fragrant and herbal than other gins - certainly than that Smirnoff rubbish. It comes in a ye olde bottlee so its aesthetic appeal is high (v. important to the irretrievably shallow) but after that it's just plain DELICIOUS. The BF bought Herself another bottle for her birthday (they conspire over how difficult I am and just how much help they both need to get through the torment) and we have been enjoying its cool libation these past few days. There are some who would drink a Hendricks and tonic with cucumber instead of lemon - they are free to do so, this is a free country. I prefer lemon and I ain't shiftin'.

The one drawback of Hendricks is its cost. Supermarket gin (made of boiled-down car sweets and lighter fluid) is certainly cheaper, but you won't feel all elegant and glamorous while you're drinking it, will you? No.

Tanqueray is very good - a high-quality pub or bar option. Bombay Sapphire will do at a push. But if you really want to enjoy yourself (and you should! you should!) make it Hendricks every time.

PS - For the avoidance of doubt the 'all-white' part of the party referred to drinks. Not (as many thought) to dress code, and certainly not to anything more favourable in Alabama.