Legends Slot: Lesley Gracie, Hendrick’s Gin - Ginposium 2024
Christopher Hayman & Lesley Gracie Hendrick's Gin
A Q&A with the legendary Lesley Gracie creator of Hendrick’s Gin, hosted by Gin Guild Chairman, Christopher Hayman.
About Lesley
Lesley, originally a Yorkshire scientist, first started working on flavour development with a pharmaceutical company when she needed to make medicinal drugs more palatable.
She moved to Scotland with her husband and joined William Grant & Sons in 1988 where her role originally focused on whiskies and malts and developing new liquids.
When, in the late 1990s, William Grant Chairman Charlie Gordon decided he wanted to launch a new gin, Lesley was tasked to develop one.
Part of the brief was that it should have more depth and complexity than anything currently on bar shelves – and the Chairman wanted what were to become Hendrick’s signature flavours, rose and cucumber, in it.