To the OP, if you don’t like bitter drinks, try a Bramble (as long as you can get creme de mure). It’s on the sweeter side without quite being “stick an umbrella and a swirly straw in it” sweet.

As for gin, Bombay is known as a gin for vodka drinkers. I’m not a huge Hendricks fan, of the big widely available labels I prefer Gin Mare, Tanqueray Ten as well as some of the local Irish gins (Gunpowder, Bertha’s Revenge, Shortcross & Dingle).