William Grant & Sons has devised a unique way to support the struggling hospitality industry, launching a premixed cocktail created by experts from five international bars, including one in Australia.
Batch & Bottle Hendrick’s Gin Martini was crafted by Hendrick’s master distiller, Lesley Gracie, working with cocktail specialists from Sydney’s Maybe Sammy, Brujas in Mexico, Nauticus in Scotland, Nutmeg & Clove in Singapore, and Yaldy in Germany.
The Gin Martini is one of a range of four super-premium pre-mixed cocktails now sold at Dan Murphy’s stores in 500ml bottles – each containing six full-strength serves – at RRP $50 each, as well as being served in each of the participating bars.
For the first year on the market, William Grant & Sons will donate $1 from each bottle sold to the company’s StandFast fund that supports the hospitality industry struggling through Covid-19 trading restrictions.
The range comprises Monkey Shoulder Lazy Old Fashioned, Reyka Rhubarb Cosmopolitan, Glenfiddich Scotch Manhattan and the Gin Martini.
Teams from each of the five participating bars developed three variations of Hendrick’s Martini using ingredients often unique to their location. Gracie, Hendrick’s master distiller together with global ambassador Ally Martin, drew from the best of the different flavour elements that were presented and developed the Batch & Bottle Hendrick’s Gin Martini, seeking feedback from the bars at every step.
“I worked closely with some of the very best martini-making bars in the world, taking inspiration from what they do and translating it into something you can easily pour at home that’s fresh, floral, round and smooth like Hendrick’s,” said Gracie. “Each bar had a wildly different take on what made the perfect martini. It sent me down a rabbit hole of flavour discovery, experimenting endlessly with different ingredients and flavour combinations.”
To create the final martini, each bar worked alongside Gracie and Martin to hone and develop the recipe with ingredients that inspired them.
