Drop into a bottle of Hendrick’s Gin to meet tall men in top hats, little people in masks, and a 20’ woman with a surprise under her dress, while hokum jug band music pumps vaudeville into the air. The emcee doffs his purple bowler in your direction, inviting you in to marvel the many wonders and curiosities, and to enjoy an “Array of Delightfully Peculiar Cocktails.” Hendricks finishes their cross-county “Voyages into the Unusual” tour with a grand finale party on Tuesday, December 10 and Wednesday, December 11 at Skylight One Hanson (One Hanson Place, Brooklyn).

Prepare to line-up in anticipation for an experience especially designed for Hendrick’s’ customers. Who are Hendrick’s’ customers, you ask? Jim Ryan, Brand Ambassador, described them/us as being as unique as Hendrick’s Gin itself - not too serious or highbrow, but intelligent, well educated people who appreciate premium stuff - aspirational imbibers who want to be part of the club.

One 18 wheeler carries everything needed to assemble Victoria’s best traveling steampunk indoor carnival of folly complete with Coney Island Freak Show caliber oddities and multiple bars - some obvious, some not at all. Belly-up to the main bar - a striking convexity in wood which is also a bookcase (with books!) where one of six special cocktails will be expertly mixed just for you. Be sure to move around and mingle, but keep your ears and eyes open for clues on finding the hidden bars. Listen for the barker instructing folks to step right up to a huge wooden crate. If one follows his direction on completing a secret gesticulation and chain banging combination, a gorilla will pass the lucky guy or gal a drink through a small hole cut into the box’s planks. Look for a crowd gathered around an oversized antique steamer trunk ajar, where opening the right drawer at the right time graces the winner the prize of a cocktail, or a little something else.

On the topic of cocktails, Hendrick’s is, after all, visiting to share their liquid bouquet of juniper, rose and cucumber and some ideas on how to mix them. We recommend you try all of these recipes and look for more on their Facebook page:

Cucumber Blood Cocktail: 
1 part lemon verbena infused-Hendrick’s gin
1½ parts cucumber juice
¼ part lemon juice
¼ part simple syrup
1 dash green chartreuse
Shake and strain into a vial garnished with Hendrick’s gin infused cucumber balls

Hendricks & Tonic:
1½ parts Hendrick's gin
3½ parts tonic
1 cucumber spear
Combine ingredients over ice and stir
Garnish with a cucumber spear

Night of the Iguana:
1½ parts Hendrick’s gin
1 part celery juice
¼ part cucumber juice
½ part fresh lemon
½ part simple syrup
1 cucumber wheel, ground sea salt, ground cubeb berry
Combine ingredients, add ice, and shake vigorously 
Strain into martini glass and garnish with cucumber wheel dusted with ground cubed and sea salt

On This Harvest Mule:
1½ parts Hendrick’s gin
1 part Mathilde Liqueur Poire
¾ part fresh lemon juice
½ part ginger syrup
7 drops apple shrub
2 parts Doc’s Draft Pear Apple Cider
Combine all ingredients except cider
Ice, shake well and strain into an iced long glass
Top with cider and garnish with an Angostura bitters soaked pear slice

Traveler’s Testament:
1½ parts Hendrick’s gin
¾ part Rooibos Tea
½ part lime juice
¾ part raspberry syrup
1 tbsp toasted coconut flakes
1 part cold sparkling water
Combine Hendrick’s gin, tea, raspberry syrup and lime juice
Ice, shake well and top with sparkling water
Garnish with toasted coconut and enjoy

Voyages Into The Unusual Traveling Punch:
Each city on the tour gets a customized version to call their own. You’ll have to go to taste NY.