Though I don’t remember it, I must have had a terrible experience drinking gin at some point in my life because I’ve avoided it like the plague for as long as I can remember. 

Which is why when a friend of mine asked if I would take part in her gin focus group a week or two ago (for her job, not personal! Though it would be awesome if I had friends who held gin focus groups for personal reasons...) I declined. Until she told me they wanted non-gin drinkers in the room to help round out the panel. And also that there would be free food. I’ve never been very good at turning down free food, so I said yes.

When we got there, the entire room was helping themselves to a cocktail, picking from 8 or 9 different gins available. I’ve also never been very good at not drinking when everyone else around me is, so despite my dislike for gin, I started to help myself by pouring a very light drink. I was assured by the other, more knowing, drinkers in the room that Hendrick’s was a standard and so I decided to try and struggle through one drink and not be the lone person out.

I poured just a tiny bit of gin in the glass, added in tonic and squeezed in the juice from two limes wedges. I took one sip. And then another. And then another. It tasted cool, citrus-y and refreshing. And in that moment, I realized, holy shit, I actually like gin?? 

I was able to leave the focus group with a bottle and quickly got to work. Using a very handy tool on the Hendrick’s website, (aptly named the Treasury of Tipples) I came upon this recipe and have been making them ever since: The Hendrick’s Flora Dora. It’s so easy and it’s perfect for summer. 

Here’s what you’ll need.

Piña Colada Recipe | Epicurious.com.

  Here’s another pineapple recipe.

I’m trying to use up the fresh pineapple I got on sale the other day. Wasn’t planning on having to leave for work quite so soon.

I do love pinacoladas, even if I have to make them virgin. ;-)