Woman behind Hendrick's gin honoured

The woman behind a world-famous gin has been honoured by her home town university.

Hull-born Lesley Gracie is the master distiller and creator of the original Hendrick's gin recipe.

She has been given an honorary degree by the University of Hull for her pioneering approach to innovation and creativity.

Gracie said it was a huge honour.

"I'm just so proud to have been given this award. I would never have thought this would happen," she said.

She told BBC Radio Humberside how it all started in a chemistry laboratory in Hull.

"I'm a Hull girl born and bred and I was doing chemistry at the technical college and working at the pharmaceutical company Reckitt while doing my degree part-time.

"That was great fun, but then I was moving up to Scotland to marry my current husband.

"I always call him that to keep him on his toes," she added.

After securing a job at the William Grant distillery in Girvan, Ayrshire, Gracie became involved in product development, and said the team was asked by the then life-president to come up with something "totally different in terms of flavour and aroma".

This was in the late 1990s and at a time when the popularity of gin was decreasing, she said.

Talking about the recipe, she added: "Gin has to be predominantly the nose and taste of juniper, but then you can add in all sort of things behind it.

"So, we were adding in spice elements, floral elements and green-based elements, which gave it that real depth and complexity."

The brand is known for its apothecary-style bottle and its signature cucumber and rose aroma.

A former rugby league player and coach who led his team to Challenge Cup victories was also honoured by the university.

Lee Radford, former head coach at Hull FC, was awarded an honorary doctorate for his contribution to sport and community development.

Rory Clarke, managing director of J R Rix and Sons and Yiannis Koursis, chief executive of the Bedford College Group, also received honours.

The university's interim vice-chancellor, Prof Kevin Kerrigan, said the honours were in recognition of the "life-changing determination, resilience, and ambition" shown by the recipients.

"We are proud of every one of them," he added.

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