Food & Drink

Review: Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Inspired Pickled Cucumbers

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In April of this yr, Hendrick’s posted an Instagram prank promoting Hendrick’s-branded pickles. Intelligent, however not an earth-shattering degree of jokery, actually.

Solely now the pickles are actual, courtesy of a collaboration with iconic Katz’s Delicatessen in New York, the place they’re accessible in retailer and for nationwide delivery, for a restricted time. They’re made with a a lot totally different recipe than in Hendrick’s Instagram publish, which has them brining in precise gin. As a substitute, the pickles from Katz’s (accessible by the quart) are described as half-sour, infused with conventional Hendrick’s gin botanicals — together with rose and many juniper.

Very like Hendrick’s Gin, the method for creating Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Impressed  Pickled Cucumbers was intricate and detailed, with a two-step brining course of taking on 72 hours. Katz’s distinctive recipe options entire juniper berries and cubeb berries to finest incorporate the botanicals of  the gin into its half-sour brine.

Whereas the complete pickle (about 4 inches lengthy) may be too massive to be thought-about a real cocktail garnish, a slice or a spear may do the trick. Or you possibly can merely eat them as a snack. Katz’s airlifted a pattern to California for us to style forward of tomorrow’s rollout, so let’s get to it.

To start out with, don’t come anticipating a bracingly briny, vinegary conventional pickled cucumber such as you get alongside your hoagie. The reasonably sized cukes are brined in a surprisingly gentle slurry that basically protects the cucumber taste. They’re crisp and inexperienced, they usually preserve that vegetal character {that a} traditional, uncooked cucumber presents — the affect of the half-sour fashion exhibiting itself. The brine is loaded (full) with juniper berries and cubeb, and except for the cucumber itself and a evenly salty character, that piney juniper is probably the most distinguished taste current — although it’s gentle. A floral notice can be there, however it’s very delicate, together with what seems to be a touch of cinnamon or nutmeg that’s simply barely detectable on the end.

Does it style like gin? Not precisely, however it’s nearer to gin than some other pickle I’ve encountered, and it’s particularly enjoyable for its novelty worth. Both manner, I favor a saltier fashion of pickle; the half-sour comes throughout as a bit too understated for me.

That stated, if I could also be so daring as to counsel a future collaboration: How about Hendrick’s and Katz’s Pickle-Flavored Gin? Make it occur, guys.

Observe: These are recent pickles that proceed to pickle within the container and are advisable to be consumed inside 5 or 6 days.

B / $15 per quart / katzsdelicatessen.com

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Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Impressed Pickled Cucumbers

$15

Ranking

8.0/10

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