Made by historic London wine merchants Berry Bros. & Rudd, the six-botanical spirit took two years to develop with Dr David Clutton – a man who holds a PhD in gin (yep, that exists). It was worth the effort. While gin has a long history in places like The Netherlands and the United Kingdom, it’s made in all corners of the globe. While not often thought of historically as a gin destination, Australia has become a great country to be a gin drinker in the last decade or so with many craft and artisanal distilleries cranking out amazing, noteworthy gins. Add to that, Australia is starting to become known as a gin destination all over the world after capturing some of the biggest awards at the 2022 World Gin Awards. Rise of Gin in Australia Monday 10.00am – 3.00pm, Tuesday – Friday 10.00am- 5.30pm. Saturday and Sunday 10.00am – 3.00pm Mount Uncle Distillery, Walkamin For the gin drinker that enjoys the finer things in life, Gold Emotion offers a premium craft gin infused with 24k edible gold flakes.

Long-time readers will know that I’m a huge fan of Melbourne Gin Company Dry gin, it’s my go-to in a martini. Andrew uses fractional distilling, meaning all the botanicals were distilled separately before he blends them together, making the most of his wine-making skills. It’s won many awards and since it’s release many have been waiting patiently for Andrew to release another gin.While Australia’s drinks scene was historically dominated by big beer and speed-rail spirits, there is now a burgeoning craft contingent within brewing, winemaking, distilling and mixology.

Most pink gins I’ve tried either cloying or taste so artificial that it was hard for me to discern whether it really was gin. So, in conclusion, I’m not a fan. About the gin: Kangaroo Island Spirits is a microdistillery, making just 45 bottles per batch, “which is insane, when you think about how larger distillers makes millions of litres” per batch, notes Collins. During the bushfires last year, the distillery was forced to evacuate, move all their product and close temporarily, as the fires came within 4km of their business. Their O’Gin is a London dry style, made with European juniper berries and coastal daisy bush sourced from Kangaroo Island. When I heard that Sacha from Adelaide Hills Distillery was releasing a pink gin, I’ll admit my shoulders sagged a little. However, knowing Sacha’s ability to create show-stopping gins – (Green Ant gin was in my Top 10 of 2017) I hoped that I thought that this could be a pink gin I could get behind.

Archie Rose Distilling Co. Signature Dry Gin

In terms of flavour, Australian gins can range from the boldly botanical to the subtly sophisticated. You might find one with a heady, floral bouquet thanks to the addition of native wattleseed, or another with a citrus-forward punch from the addition of blood orange and river mint. There is a versatility in Australian gins that makes them suitable for a classic G&T, a dry Martini, or a more elaborate mixed drink. Never Never opened their new space in March 2020, sharing it with Chalk Hill Wines. There is a beautiful outdoor space, still room, tasting room and spectacular bar with former Baxter Inn Manager, Stuart ‘Chewy’ Morrow at the helm. Photos by www.facebook.com/meaghancoles.nowandthenphotography www.nowandthenphotography.com.au Though Adelaide Hills Distillery may have only one gin in its core range, it’s a true beauty and a testament to how some of the best Australian gins almost always come out of South Australia. The 78˚ Classic Gin is mostly distinguished from the competition by a resinous mid-plate flanked by the more typical citrus and floral notes with a long lingering spice thanks to the juniper’s delicate flavours. Victoria is officially Australia’s craft gin capital, with more than 100 producers calling the state home, including the country’s largest exporter, Four Pillars.

AUSTRALIA. In the latest breakthrough for fast-growing New Zealand gin Strange Nature, Lotte Duty Free has become the exclusive Australian launch partner for the brand’s new Barrel-Aged Gin expression. The launch complements Strange Nature’s partnership with Lotte Duty Free at Wellington International Airport in New Zealand and the brand’s presence across Lotte Duty Free’s multiple travel retail stores. Four Pillars Distillery in Melbourne’s Yarra Valley took a punt by marrying Shiraz grapes with Rare Dry Gin. The result is a deep, reddish purple gin juice with a sweetness straight from the grapes. More broadly, says IWSR’s Keeling, the main underlying macro trends – such as premiumisation, growing health-consciousness, digitisation and provenance – “have not been interrupted by the pandemic and can be expected to continue throughout the forecast period, to 2024.” This bodes well for the craft sector in Australia.

Mix Yarra Valley Grapes with gin and what do you get? The answer is Bloody Shiraz Gin and it’s bloody brilliant.