Q&A with Erik Andersson, Regional Brand Ambassador for Hendrick’s Gin

In a woman’s world, Gin is perhaps slightly underrated.

If you ask the ladies – us included – about our favourite drinks, we’re more likely to lean towards wine, champagne and vodka-based Cosmopolitans if one is a hardcore SATC fan.

Those Gin Martinis are thought to be reserved for the gentlemen who wish to have their Bond moment or just happen to appreciate this spirit dating back to the Middle Ages – which has more than meets the eye.

In an attempt to enlighten us and get us to see the softer side of Gin, Erik Andersson, Regional Brand Ambassador for Scottish premium Gin brand Hendrick’s roams the continent creating concoctions to please beginners as well as avid Gin aficionados in the region.

We recently caught up with Erik while on one of his tours in Singapore – as he was guest bartending at the hip Fordham & Grand and serving a Midnight Tea Party revolving around the rose theme.

Although all the roses were taken by the time we got there – yup we were fashionably late as usual – we were treated to a few drinks and walked out more informed about Gin, Erik’s distinctive fashion sense, his bar recommendations around Asia, and a ladies’ friendly Gin cocktail recipe which we can’t wait to try on our next girls’ night in…

Marie France Asia: You probably started bartending in college for extra money (educated guess, correct us if we’re wrong) – but how did this become a career for you?
Erik Andersson: Correct, it slowly became a career over the years as I developed in the industry. I started competing (won my first cocktail competition in 2001), but also because I attended as much trainings about spirits, wine, beer and cocktails etc as I possibly could.

MFA: What’s so special about Gin and how versatile is it as a spirit? What’s so special about Hendrick’s in particular?
E. A.: Gin is arguable the most important spirit for bartenders during the last 150 years. Cocktail books from those days up until now are mostly dominated by gin cocktails. Gin is a very versatile spirit, it works with most things (herbs, citrus, spice, berries, in long drinks, short drinks and naturally in my favourite drink, the martini.)

MFA: You have worked in Europe (Stockholm, London) as well as Asia – where you are currently based. What’s the main difference between the bartending/drinking scene in each continent? Which do you prefer?
E. A.: Well, to start, neither of the continents are homogenous in its’ bar scenes but there are a couple of main points. Bartending culture is newer in Asia compared to Europe (and the US where cocktail culture started). But, the scene is developing quicker in Asia.

MFA: What Asian city you think is the most exciting when it comes to drinking culture and creative bartending?
E. A.: I think the main cities are Singapore and Hong Kong, just followed by Shanghai and Bangkok. As wild cards I do hold Jakarta, Beijing and KL which are super interesting. Japan, as in many cases, is a unique market. It has a longer tradition of bartending which makes the scene in Tokyo but also in Osaka truly inspiring.

MFA: Any favourite bars in Asia and why?
E.A.: Now that is a truly tough one…
There are so many, but if you twist my arm I will have to go with:
Singapore: Jigger & Pony, never had a bad drink there and service is second to none. 28HKS is also one of the best bars (in Asia)
HK: Quinary, Antonio Lai has lead the HK scene forward like few people in our industry in Asia. His bar Quinary is an institution for creative bartending.
Bangkok: Hyde & Seek, really top cocktails and a very interesting program
KL: Omakase&Appreciate. Great drinks but also a very warm atmosphere.

MFA: We have noticed you’ve got a ‘classic style with a twist’ when it comes to fashion (obvious by the unique waistcoats you usually don) to match your Gin cocktails. Is that on purpose or is it just ‘your style?
E.A.: I actually wore more suits before but soon realized that waistcoats fit the climate here slightly better. Waistcoats are also a traditional bartender item.

MFA: Travelling so often for work, can be tiring. How do you unwind?
E.A.: Wake surfing, cooking and classical music (I play the Bass Clarinet)

MFA: What’s your favourite drink to make for a lady if she asks you to choose and why?
E.A.: It will depend on who and what the occasion is. A couple of questions from my side usually points in a clear direction. Personally I recently rediscovered a true classic, the French 75 (Hendrick’s Gin, Sugar and Lemon Juice shaken and topped with Champagne). It is an all round drink that works for most occasions and snacks.

MFA: Can you give us a gin recipe to try at home? Any particular food/snack pairing to go with it?
E.A.: The French 75 recipe: 45ml Hendrick’s Gin, 15ml Fresh Lemon Juice, 10ml Sugar Syrup, shake and strain into a champagne flute, top up with the Champagne. It goes well with most snacks.

MFA: If there is only one drink (or cocktail) which you can drink for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
E.A.: Hendrick’s Martini, no photo finish…

Rana Wehbe