Spice Gin

Key Botanicals:

• Cardamom, cinnamon and star anise

• Orange zest

Tasting Notes

 Star anise is dominant but is well partnered by the cardamom and cinnamon.

 Orange zest give some citrus and lightness to balance the heavier woody botanicals

 Orris and angelica root give some grounded depth

 Juniper adds the more piney notes that compliment the orange

The perfect G&T

30ml Mallee Spirit Spice gin

90ml Bickford’s Dry tonic

I like the simplicity of the Bickford’s tonic

As a distiller, I spent so much time making the gin flavoursome - it don’t want to confuse it with a complex tonic (see my blog on tonic water)

Pour over a large block of ice and garnish with a big wedge of fresh orange

Alternate mixing Options

30ml Mallee Spirit Spice gin

90ml Capi Blood Orange soda

Pour over a large block of ice and garnish with that big wedge of orange

Cocktails

Negroni

“Undeniably Italy’s most celebrated contribution to the cocktail canon, the Negroni is a harmonious mix of gin, sweet vermouth and bitters served on ice and often finished with a splash of soda” The Madrusan Cocktail Companion – Every drink worth drinking in the history of modern and classic cocktails, Michael and Zara Madrusan

“It sets you up for dinner, in a way it makes you hungry, sands the edges off the afternoon. After dinner, it’s settling. It’s a rare drink that can do that.” Anthony Bourdain

I love bitter – not everyone does, but the bitterness from citrus is what I crave in my cocktails. And if you love bitter then you will love a Negroni and my Spice gin distilled with lots of orange zest is the perfect gin for this amazing cocktail. Choose your bitter aperitivo and sweet vermouth carefully as not every brand is equal and sometimes

you can find the ingredient that can truly elevate your Negroni. I like to use ingredients that are made in Australia and have a bit of a native twist.

This is my fav combination

30ml Mallee Spirit Spice Gin

30ml MAiDENii Sweet Vermouth

30ml Okar aperitivo (Applewood Distillery)

Soda water to finish

If you don’t have the opportunity to be experimental – stick to the classic of

30ml Mallee Spirit Spice Gin

30ml Red Sweet Vermouth

30ml Campari

Combine the gin, vermouth and bitter aperitivo in a tumbler with a large block of ice and garnish with a twist of orange zest

For extra points, rub the orange peel around the rim of the glass, then squeeze the peel across an open flame to release a burst of flamed oil across the surface of the drink.

For those that want to know a bit more about Vermouth – here’s a good read: Young Gun of Wine