For Hendrick’s Gin, the Cucumber is the Star This Month

In a sea of the predictable, we find solace and excitement in peculiar experiences. We crave the feeling of being freed from the simple, the mundane, and the familiar. We want fresh experiences filled with curiosity and uniqueness.  

The same is true when it comes to beverages. When it comes to libations, the humble cucumber isn’t exactly the top note that most people look for; almost always, citrus comes first to mind. 

Hendrick’s Gin—my personal favorite gin since I first tasted it in 2016—is a curious marriage between two different stills, infused with botanicals and that crisp note of cucumbers and pleasant rose.  

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It’s said that Hendrick’s is best paired with tonic and fresh slices of cucumbers. This was the drink served during the launch of Refreshing Encounters, the celebratory start of World Cucumber Day.  

Charmaine Thio, Southeast Asia Regional Brand Ambassador for Hendrick’s Gin, shared that Hendrick’s and Tonic is her favorite way to consume the beverage that promises to “create experiences that are both refreshing and intriguing.”  

Indeed, it was intriguing for me—a social drinker who brings Hendrick’s to parties that I feel would not serve me the best fill for my alcohol—that the world celebrates cucumbers. After all, it’s just a regular fruit (and not, in fact, a vegetable). It does, however, pack a crisp, refreshing taste and aroma. And having it in my drink was a welcome respite after hours and hours of working in front of my laptop; an oasis from the dry repetitive work life.  

"For Hendrick's Gin, the humble cucumber has always been our quintessential muse,” Thio shared. 

To celebrate World Cucumber Day, Hendrick’s has lined up several peculiar activities this month. According to Thio, Hendrick’s Gin is set to invigorate Manila through a three-day celebration from June 13 to June 15. 

The highlight of this whimsical festivity is the much-anticipated return of the Cucumber Currency Exchange. 

On June 14, over 50 bars across Metro Manila will participate in the event, where a simple cucumber can be exchanged for a Hendrick’s & Tonic from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Each guest can redeem one drink, making it a perfect opportunity to bring along a friend and share the experience.

In addition to the Cucumber Currency Exchange, Hendrick’s Gin will host a series of enchanting activities across 11 select venues. Participants can indulge in a Hendrick’s Cucumber Spa, offering five-minute hand massages and cold towel services, or enjoy the spontaneity of on-the-spot haiku creations and tarot card readings. 

These delightful experiences are available with the purchase of two Hendrick’s cocktails, giving patrons a token to redeem their chosen activity.

The participating venues for these extraordinary encounters are Lampara, Secreto, Dr. Wine BGC, Dr. Wine Poblacion, Apothecary, Guilt PH, Mijo, Papillon, Refuge, Spritz, and The Way Out. Each location will transform into a haven of refreshment and whimsy, providing an escape from the ordinary and a chance to revel in the unusual. 

“In its (cucumber’s) honor, we're bringing the Cucumber Currency Exchange back to Metro Manila with a number of refreshing twists to serve as a delightful escape from the ordinary humdrum of our everyday lives,” Thio says.