Whether or not you like gin, you must have already heard of the brand Hendrick’s. However, perhaps less people know that the history of this delicious drink goes all the way back to 1999, when after several years of experimenting, Charles Gordon and Leslie Gracie created it together. Now this tasty tipple – that amongst various ingredients also includes rose and cucumber essence – is now featured in a commercial called Unusual Budapest, featuring five famous Budapest residents.
The short film was directed by Péter Ráday, and the aforementioned figures are all Budapest residents who enhance the city's urban scene in their own peculiar ways. This is how Hungarian artist Gáspár Bonta is seen at work, while traveling, and sipping on a coffee concoction at Hadik, while fashion designer Anna Daubner shops at the Downtown Market, and rides a bike in Józsefváros. Furthermore, the video shows Fukui Yusuke dancing in his showroom and playing ping-pong in a park, Magyar singer Odett Polgár taking pictures of the city and singing at Pagony, while gastro expert Rozina Wossala sips on a soup at Bestia. Naturally, all stories must come to an end: their days all finish with a glass of tasty cucumber gin-tonic. Or does it only begin with that drink?
After the shoot, the video’s stars shared their thoughts on Budapest, their favorite hangouts, and on the best parts of making the video:
Gáspár Bonta, artist
- As a true world citizen, he thinks that a metropolis is in the making in Budapest.
- His favorite thing to do in this stunning city is soaking at Rudas Bath, but he also likes sipping on a drink while sitting on his terrace, watching the hustle and bustle of the street underneath.
- During the shoot, he was charmed by the morning light at the first flat where he was filmed.
Anna Daubner, fahion designer
- Anna loves that Budapest holds so many intriguing hidden gardens to be discovered.
- Nowadays her favorite place is a wooden dock at Margaret Island, and when she has some time she loves exploring the city’s wonderful ice-cream parlors.
- Her favorite scene in the film is when at the end of the day she has a gin-tonic with her friend.
Fukui Yusuke, painter
- He considers Budapest to be a captivating place, which is made all the more special by its people.
- He does not have a favorite drinking destination, as for him the company matters the most.
- His favorite moment in the film is the ping-pong match with his son.
Rozina Wossala, gastro expert
- According to Rozina, Budapest is a colorful city; she loves the city’s intermingling of the past and the future, street-loungers and aristocrats, punks and elegant people – all faces of the city that can be observed in the course of a day.
- She thinks that the labyrinth under the Buda Castle is so exciting that she goes there at least once a year.
- Rozina loved it that during the shoot, the Hendrick’s team almost cut the cucumber with a truffle cutter.
Odett, singer
- For Odett, Budapest is the most magical capital in Europe, as elements of many other cities like Berlin, London, or even New York can be discovered in it.
- Her favorite place is the Philosophers’ Garden, which is a perfect place for dates that she has tested many times.
And, there’s good news for anyone who likes gin and gin-tonic – Hendrick’s is hosting a picnic enhanced with live music, where Odett will sing, and where nobody will be left without tasty bites. To join this fun-filled jamboree, visit Liebling on June 21st.
