For the first time in Vancouver, and in history, special guests were taken away in the “most unusual quest” outside the Vancouver Art Gallery in Downtown Vancouver with Hendrick’s Gin.

Looking back on the A.W.E.V.A.N.A.I.R. photos afloat in Montreal, I was excited when this 65-foot wonder made its way to Vancouver during the inaugural Honda Celebration of Light weekend in August.

Lucky recipients of the coveted GOLDEN TICKETS that were drawn from a June – July contest by Hendrick’s Gin, were welcomed by Hendrick’s Air Time Travelling agents at the Hendrick’s Air Departure Gate.

To prepare for boarding the A.W.E.V.A.N.A.I.R., Douglas and I enjoyed the many unique sights and sounds in the departure lounge.

Two musicians throughout the night performed the most unusual instruments. Hendrick’s Gin There-gin, Theadora Feu Follet, provided mysterious sonnets of sound without laying a finger on the theremine, known as an electronic musical instrument.

And cucumberous musical tones came from the world’s only C.O.R.G.A.N, known as the Cucumber Organ of Remarkably Glorious Auditory Nirvana, made of 49 real, whole cucumber keys.

As we waited for our pre-boarding announcement, we sipped and nibbled on refreshing cucumber concoctions.

Hendrick’s Gin National Brand Ambassador and their Canadian Brand Manager welcomed us with the first west coast tastings of Hendrick’s Gin latest release, Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice.

Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice is a deeply floral gin inspired by the eternal mystery of nature’s most vivid blooms on the Midsummer solstice, and will be releasing in Canada before Winter solstice in 2019.

We found Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice to be nice and smooth with its floral essence. Both Douglas and I agreed it would be great on its own, on the rocks, with soda in a unique gin martini.

After I got over the loud blasts of the burner flame as we went up in groups of 4, we relaxed while enjoying the journey of 44 ¼ cucumbers into the evening sky with the Hendrick’s Gin A.W.E.V.A.N.A.I.R. (Amazing, Whimsical, Enchanting, Voyaging, Astounding, Nocturnal, Ascending, Interstellar, Roamer).

Thank you to the Hendrick’s Gin team for putting on a fun, captivating and curiously odd evening on the West Coast!