How odd am I?
She clicked her tongue and shook her bum
and said how odd am I

I like chartreuse, I don’t chew gum
and I tell jokes to the sky

But still I fall in love, I dream at night
and I like a good time — wink, wink

Yet still, I’d rather be odd than right
which is why Hendrick’s is the gin that I drink

I did not write this. Seriously. I have to say I have fallen in love with this very unique spirit, made in very small batches with lots of botanicals, cucumber and rose. I’ve been drinking a very delicious version of the classic gin and tonic for about two years now. You take one lime and juice it into a rocks glass. Add three or four shakes of bitters and a jigger of Hendrick’s Gin. Add three ice cubes and a can of Hansen’s Tonic. Stir. SO delicious and totally refreshing.

But that’s not the drink I want to tell you about. It’s getting to be that lovely time of year when the day lingers, the weather cools off, and you want a special refreshing drink to savor under the twinkle lights on the back porch. I say it’s high time to make a Gordon’s Cup. I’m always on the hunt for a new gin drink, and this winter we went through quite the stint of Gin Fizzes. Turns out my son Jacob’s great grandfather on his father’s side has a foolproof and divine recipe for Fizzes, which Jacob’s dad’s family traditionally serves Christmas morning. I have to ask permission to share it, so you’ll have to hold on to your britches until then.

About Hendrick’s Gin:

The bottle is a distinctive, stout, dark brown creation crowned with a cork. Hendrick’s is not your run of the mill gin (ha ha) so you have to go to a real liquor store to snag some. Here in Reno try Ben’s Liquors. They sell it for around $25 a bottle, but sometimes it’s sold out! So call if you really need some and have them hold it for you. I myself am not beneath doing this and have done it several times this year in fact. I’d love to take a trip to Ayrshire, Scotland to see the distillery in person. Check it out at http://www.hendricksgin.co.uk/.

So. The Gordon’s Cup. I saw this recipe in a recent Bon Appetit, and made the magazine version once, but was inspired to add some watermelon and use Henrick’s Gin not Gordon’s Gin. I mean lime, cucumber, simple syrup…who does not love that? Add some watermelon and you are golden my friend.

Hendrick’s Summer Cup
1 lime cut into 6 wedges
2 ½ inch pieces of cucumber (English is best. Leave the peel on.)
¼ cup Hendrick’s Gin
2 tablespoons simple syrup (boil 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar for 1 minute and cool)
2/3 cup cracked ice (use a wooden spoon to crack each cube in your hand)
½ cup watermelon chunks
Pinch of Kosher Salt
Fresh Mint

Into a shaker, place lime, watermelon and cucumber. Muddle or smash with a wooden spoon until the lime is juiced and the watermelon and cucumber are smashed. Add simple syrup, gin and ice. Shake hard 6 times. Pour all contents into a rocks glass. Sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt and garnish with fresh mint. Walk out to the twinkle lights and sit on a deck chair. Call your friends, tell them what you’re drinking, then cackle hysterically and hang up. Or invite them over. Your choice.

If you hate the thought of watermelon in here, or are a purist (which I totally get) then don’t add the watermelon. No biggie.

Serves 1 gin lover.