Hendrick’s Gin, which has taken the world by storm since launching in 1999 and slowly become one of the world’s top-selling gins, has released a new limited-edition expression that is sure to delight fans of the brand. Orbium, previously only available in limited amounts in the United Kingdom, is now available in the United States (also in limited amounts).
The biggest difference between Orbium and the original Hendrick’s (besides the use of a blue bottle compared to the original dark brown) is the inclusion of additional extracts of quinine, wormwood, and lotus blossom essence. The quinine and wormwood were used to present elements of classic cocktails: the quinine as is found in the tonic of a gin and tonic and the wormwood found in vermouth in a martini. The lotus blossom, while not found in a traditional cocktail, was added for balance with the other ingredients (it is also the reasoning behind the blue glass). Hendrick’s Orbium has the same amount of alcohol as the original, clocking in at 44 percent alcohol by volume.
The blend of these ingredients, plus the other herbs and botanicals, translates to a fruitier, more floral nose and a palate that is decidedly rounder. From the nose through the finish, Orbium is overall softer, though no less flavorful.
Orbium — which is Latin for “spheres” and, according to master distiller Lesley Gracie, represents the liquid’s journey — is not the first new product from Hendrick’s, but it is the first one to be available in outside the UK bar community (and outside sample size allotments). Two cordials, Battersea and Quinetum, were the first of the new products, followed by Kanaracuni Gin in 2014, which was a result of Gracie’s time in the Venezuelan rainforest. A total of 5,000 cases of Orbium were made available to select bars in the U.S.
Found a bar that has Orbium? We recommend ordering it in a classic cocktail, such as a martini. Check out Hendrick’s Ambassador Erik Andersson’s Orbium Martini below.
Orbium Martini
- 2.5 parts Orbium
- .5 part Dolin Blanc
- Lemon twist, for garnish
- Cucumber slice, for garnish
Method: Combine ingredients in a martini glass and stir. Garnish with a lemon twist discarded and cucumber slice.
