For our Scots: Hendrick's Distilled Gin

[Mike Buckley]

My sister-in-law has permission from the manager of a local bar to collect bottles from its trash. This bottle that she found presented an entirely new photographic challenge for me because it is so dark that it appears black. Shining a bright light through the glass reveals that it's just barely translucent and is dark amber. I wanted to make a dramatic presentation of the bottle and after a couple failures came up with the photo shown below.

I just love the rear label, including the use of the italics and a large font to make a special statement:

"This handcrafted gin is distilled from a proprietary recipe which includes traditional botanicals such as juniper, coriander and citrus peel. The 'unexpected' infusion of cucumber and rose petals result in a most iconoclastic gin.

IT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.
Please enjoy the unusual responsibly."

[royphot]

Hi.
I was listening to a Radio Programme yesterday, and one of the subjects discussed was the use of Whisky Distilleries to produce small batches of Gin while they had some spare capacity. It seems that the hardware required for both Spirits is exactly the same, only the raw materials differ.
This was the very first time I had ever heard of this alternative use for Whisky Distilleries, I always assumed that Gin was a very English product, and it seems that Gin is having a bit of a come-back in sales.

[GeorgeM]

Excellent work!

[Brownbear]

Another beauty Mike... Gorgeous image - beautifully lit with exceptional detail as always.

Is your image back-lit?

Aside... I might be tempted to try a sip of something made with rose petals

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, everyone!

Christina: The primary light source is from behind. A reflector placed slightly above and in front of the bottle added light to the label, its reflection and other frontal areas of the bottle. However, there was no separation of the shoulder of the bottle from the background. So, I created a second image placing a relatively large light source above and behind the top of the bottle to create a reflection. I then merged the two photos.

[deetheturk]

Great capture Mike,you learn something new every day,this is the first time iv'e heard of this,but being a single malt lover, gin is a drink i have never even tried!

Cheers David

[bnnrcn]

Very nice image,thanks for sharing

[Donald]

This was the very first time I had ever heard of this alternative use for Whisky Distilleries, I always assumed that Gin was a very English product,

Roy

You'll find that a significant amount, if not the significant majority, of gin on sale is actually distilled in Scotland. I didn't know that until a couple of years ago.

Great picture, Mike.

[Kaye Leggett]

This is very good gin - drink with a slice of cucumber and ice - not lemon. But if you want the best you have to go to the Shetland Isles for Blackwoods Gin - now that is seriously good stuff, I even buy good tonic to go with it

Oh, the pictures good too..............got carried away there.

[Donald]

... you have to go to the Shetland Isles for Blackwoods Gin - now that is seriously good stuff

It is, but the secret is ... it has nothing to do with the Shetland Isles. The company that makes it bought a field in Shetland(from a person whose cottage we hired/rented a couple of years ago). But the company never actually established a presence on Shetland and don't use any products from Shetland in the making of the gin.

Sorry for the disappointment. My wife was shocked. She loves the stuff and thougth the Shetland connection really made it ... until we found out the truth.

[Kaye Leggett]

Oh how disappointing.....but maybe not so much that I'll stop drinking it ! Foxdenton 48 is also really good stuff and is distilled just down the road from me - your good lady may like to give it a try

[Mike Buckley]

drink with a slice of cucumber and ice - not lemon

How are the lemon or cucumber typically served -- in the gin or on the rim of the glass? The reason I ask is that I'd like to make a photo and get it right.

Is the gin ever served straight or is it always mixed with tonic?

[Kaye Leggett]

In the glass please. I have never drunk gin neat, so yes please with tonic - Fevertree if you can get it, but now I'm being really fussy.

[Mike Buckley]

Very helpful, Kaye! I have added that to my shot list.

[Downrigger]

Please enjoy the unusual responsibly."

Marvelous image. I find myself with a sudden thirst. At least that's not "please enjoy unusually responsibly"

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, Mark!

[Kaye Leggett]

Very helpful, Kaye! I have added that to my shot list.

No pun intended huh!!

[Mike Buckley]

No pun intended huh!!

I would have been proud to say that it was. I'm embarrassed to say that it was not.