BRIGHTON GIN by ginsociety

THE BRIGHTON GIN EDITION

BRIGHTON BEACH, WEST SUSSEX IN ENGLAND WEST PIER AND PALACE PIER IN THE BACKGROUND

KATHY AND THE TEAM BEHIND BRIGHTON GIN.

FOUNDER’S

WELCOME

A very happy New Year from the whole team here at the Gin Society! We hope you had a wonderful festive season and you’re enjoying a gin or two as you peruse this latest issue of the Gin Journal. In celebration of our borders reopening, we’re finally heading overseas to taste a cracking gin from Brighton in the UK. They certainly know how to play hard in this buzzing seaside city, but they are also extremely conscious of the footprint they are leaving on planet Earth. So it’s

2020 PRIDE RAINBOW FUND EDITION. EACH YEAR BRIGHTON GIN BACKS THE WORK OF THE RAINBOW FUND SUPPORTING LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.

no wonder Kathy Caton and her team at Brighton Gin want to make gins that are fun, approachable, ethical and sustainable. We sit down with Jagdev Singh from The Local Drop to talk about the ups and downs of 2021. Jag is an incredibly community-minded entrepreneur who has been helping feed those in need throughout the pandemic. His wine business is also on a roll, landing its second consecutive placement on the AFR’s Fast Starters list. Diana Robertson weaves us an entertaining tale in our latest Ginsider, and we’ve compiled a list of the very best pink gins to enjoy over summer. Last but not least, the Brighton Gin team has shared a handful of lip-smackingly good cocktails to try with your bottle of Pavilion Strength Gin. As always, you can drop us a line at hello@ ginsociety.com. We hope you enjoy the seaside spectacle that is Brighton Gin. Cheers!

Andrew Burge Founder, Gin Society

VISIT US AT WWW.GINSOCIETY.COM

4 MEET THE MAKER

Taking the spirit of Brighton to the world

20 COCKTAIL HOUR

Live the beachside life with these 4 Brighton Gin cocktails

Con 22 SPIRIT OF THE SEA

Bright, fresh and playful on your palate, here are four of the best coastal gins.

The Gin Society team

Founder: Andrew Burge Director: Jagdev Singh Creative Director: Annah Lansdown Head of IT: Chris Richardson Membership Relations: Emily Prunty Designer: Tori Gibson Editor: Simon Jones

30 THE GINSIDER

with Gin Society inaugural member Diana Robertson

35 THE PINK GIN LIST

BRIGHTON GIN

ntents 40 A BIG YEAR FOR THE LOCAL DROP Q&A with Jagdev Singh, Founder of The Local Drop

Five Aussie pink-gin picks and tasty cocktails for Valentine’s weekend.

44 THE REVIEW Brighton Gin

Get in touch | Gin Journal is the bi-monthly members’ magazine of the Gin Society. Members Got a question or query about your membership? We’re here to help. Drop us a line – hello@ginsociety.com

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Partnerships Launching a new gin? Opening a new venue or distillery? Let us know – partnerships@ginsociety.com

TAKING THE SPIRIT OF BRIGHTON TO THE WORLD

n o t h Brig Gin The team at Brighton Gin do things a little different to most distillers. Their mission: to bring the spirit of Brighton to the rest of the world in a way that is fun, approachable, ethical and sustainable. Only in a place like Brighton…

M A K I N G F O R DJ. Restauranteur. Drama-school graduate. Founder of a pub theatre company. These aren’t exactly the job titles you’d expect from an award-winning distiller. But much like the city her gin is named after, Kathy Caton’s eclectic background makes her the ideal person to conceive of a gin fit for a place like Brighton. “Why gin? I’ve always loved it,” Kathy says. “It’s been my drink of choice since the ’90s when I was a student. People used to actively laugh in my face when I ordered a G&T. It was seen as being so uncool.

A R U N I T

“But I’ve had the best times on it. It’s also very forgiving towards me, particularly in the hangover stakes. The older and more decrepit I get, the more important that is because it’s much harder to bounce back from things.” In terms of the light-bulb moment for Brighton Gin, Kathy says it came to her during a run while hungover.

“I was going for a run down the seafront after a very late night on the gins. Suddenly I had this moment of, ‘Bloody hell! If I’d been drinking anything other than gin I wouldn’t be off my sofa, let alone going for a run!’ Gin is the one thing that lets me get away with it.”

“So I said to myself, ‘That’s it! Brighton needs its own gin. How hard can it be?’ That’s a question you should never, ever ask though. Because if you need to ask it, the answer will be, ‘It’s going to be hard in lots of unexpected places.’”

And in a big party town like Brighton, people need to ‘get away with it’ on a frequent basis.

BRIGHTON

F R O M C O V I D T O B R E X I T A N D B E Y O N D While the pandemic hasn’t been kind to any distillery, it’s been particularly challenging for Brighton Gin. Kathy and Charly Thieme, Operations Manager, honestly believed COVID-19 would be the death of their business – when lockdown hit the UK on 23 March 2020, nearly 95% of Brighton Gin’s customer base were shut out. Pubs, restaurants and wholesalers. All those orders stopped in their tracks. Kathy also had to endure her own bout of COVID. “Although I’m vaccinated, I caught COVID earlier in the year. I am so glad that I’d had my vaccinations because I can see how it has killed so many people.” Unfortunately for Kathy, the virus left its mark. “It’s left my palate and my senses damaged, which has been gutting. Things are slowly coming back, but I’d be absolutely 10

lost if I didn’t have my wonderful team around me. I’m now trusting that when they taste the gin and sign off on each batch, that it’s tasting right. It’s been a very good exercise in trust.” Beyond the tiresome conversation of the pandemic, Brighton Gin have also had to deal with the Brexit problem.

DRIPPING IN WAX. EACH BOTTLE HAS BEEN DIPPED, SWIVELLED, TWIDDLED AND PUT IN ICE WATER BY HAND BY JUDE AND PAUL.

“

In preparation for Brexit I thought it was going to be really awful,” says Charly. “And it was. It’s turned out that living with Brexit is a lot about hearing the word ‘no’. We used to sell directly through our website into Europe, and it would cost a bit more to ship but people were happy to do it because we didn’t have any importers in the EU. That ceased overnight.

“

In fact, Charly had sent out thousands of orders just after Christmas 2020, and then on the 4th of January the courier c o m p a n y r e t u r n e d everything. The orders stopped immediately. It was now far too expensive. If there’s any silver lining here, Charly actually found it because of the pandemic.

BRIGHTON GIN LEMON VERBENA, BRIGHTON GIN RASPBERRY CRUSH, BRIGHTON GIN & TONIC WITH BLOOD ORANGE

“With COVID, everyone suddenly went on Zoom and people were very happy to talk to us in a way they weren’t before. Before that, there wasn’t really any awareness that things could be done differently. You would have to go to a specific country or to a trade fair if you wanted to meet importers, and that’s totally changed now. “Even in Asian countries where they prefer a couple of visits in order to trust the business, we’ve still managed to add two or three export markets over the past 18 months. From a British product point of view, that has been very useful.”

BRIGHTON’S SEASIDE NAVY STRENGTH GIN 57% ABV

S U S T A I N A B L E V I S I O N F R O M T H E S T A R T

Even though Brighton Gin has operated for 10 years now, being sustainable has been a key focus right from the beginning. There’s no lip service being paid or weak eco-friendly platitudes from Kathy, Charly and the rest of the crew. It’s ingrained into the very fabric of Brighton Gin’s story. “Maybe it’s because Brighton is a very ecoconscious city, but it’s always been important to us from the start,” Charly says. “Jude, our Production Manager and Kathy’s mum, takes the mash from the botanicals home and puts it on her compost. We’ve had people make soap and even beard wax from the mash too. “We want to make it easy for people to choose Brighton Gin when they want to make a conscious decision about sustainability. We were the first gin in the UK to be vegan certified,

and that includes not just the liquid but also the packaging. The wax top that we use is vegan wax, not beeswax. We reused every piece of cardboard, such as to make inserts for the boxes or as insulation against the cold walls of our distillery. The gum and ink for the labels contain no animal products. It’s the little things as well as the big things.” Even deliveries to their local customers are designed to make as little impact as possible. “All of our local deliveries are done by Rachel on our eCargo bike,” Kathy says. “So that’s basically taken our van off the road. She’s done over 2,000 deliveries on that in the last year. But we also have pushbikes and we’re always cycling around delivering to people’s doorsteps.”

“All of our local deliveries are done by Rachel on our eCargo bike.”

B R I G H T O N ’ S V E R Y O W N G I N ‘ F O U N T A I N ’ On the topic of sustainability, Brighton Gin have found a way to save on production costs while encouraging customers to interact with their distillery. “We have a refill station on-site,” Charly says. “After you buy a bottle of Brighton Gin, when it’s empty you can come here and fill it

up yourself. People love it. They can come and have a little nose around. They love seeing the stills, seeing our team make the bottles. And from a cost point of view for the consumer, COVID has shrunk a lot of people’s wallets, so it’s nice to have that here for them when they come.”

CONCERNING MILK THISTLE…

ON-SITE REFILL STATION

“Milk thistle is indigenous to the South Downs,” Kathy says. “It’s been used since Roman times as a prophylaxis against hangover. I can’t make any

health claims for a 40% alcohol solution that contains milk thistle, but it’s kind of a nod of apology saying, ‘Mate, thank you for the work that

you’re going to do.’ Also, its Latin name is silybum, which we just really love.”

T R E A D L I G H T L Y B U T E N J O Y T H E R I D E After the struggles of COVID and Brexit, you’d be forgiven for thinking Brighton Gin should be as risk-averse as possible in order to keep their doors open. But being circumspect is something that just doesn’t sit right with Kathy. “Who bloody knows what’s around the corner? There could be an asteroid on its way right now. One of the things I’ve accepted from the past two years is that we can make all the plans in the world and something might just come in and change them, but that’s not going to stop us from having a go. “We’re on a mission to take the spirit of Brighton to the world. That’s what we want

to do – not only seeing how far we can build the gin brand, but doing it in a fun, approachable, ethical and sustainable way. It’s about having a really good time, which is why we’re making gin in the first place.” Most of all, the Brighton Gin family just wants to be authentic, and have people enjoy their gin because of that authenticity. “We’ve gone to every effort to make something that is absolutely of the best quality, that tastes fantastic and that treads lightly on the planet,” Kathy says. “But we also want people to really, really enjoy our gin when they drink it.”

brightongin.com

BO TAN IC ALS

Juniper Fresh orange peel Fresh lime peel Locally grown coriander seed Angelica root Milk thistle

TIP

For a punchier raspberry hit, add ½ cup fresh raspberries while making sugar syrup (after sugar has dissolved and while heat is on low), then macerate into a pulp and strain out seeds.

RA S PBERRY CLOVE R C LUB There’s nothing more refreshing than a bright and summery cocktail – here’s Brighton Gin’s spin on this classic. INGREDIENTS 50mL Brighton Gin Pavilion Strength 25mL fresh lemon juice 15mL sugar syrup 2–3 raspberries 1 egg white (or 20mL aquafaba for a vegan version) METHOD Add gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and egg white (or aquafaba) into a shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with 3 speared raspberries.

T HE BRIG HT ON 7 5 The French 75 is a classic cocktail dating back to just after WWI. It originally used lemon juice and powdered sugar, which Brighton Gin have exchanged for lime juice and sugar syrup. INGREDIENTS 45mL Brighton Gin Pavilion Strength 20mL lime juice 10mL sugar syrup Sparkling wine METHOD Add gin, lime juice and sugar syrup to an ice-filled Boston shaker and shake. Strain into a chilled flute or Collins glass. Top up slowly with sparkling wine, stirring lightly.

l i a t k c o C h t i w r u ho

TIP

You can test out different rock candy flavours on your own, but for an authentic experience you can buy Brighton Gin rock at their website: brightongin.com

N EG RONI S OU R

BRIGH T ON RO C KTA IL The ‘Rocktail’ is a Brighton Gin original. When you need your drink to be that little bit more Brighton-y, this is the drink for you! INGREDIENTS 50mL Brighton Gin Pavilion Strength 150mL premium tonic water Chunk of minty Brighton Gin rock Plenty of ice METHOD In an ice-filled glass, add gin and tonic. Break a small chunk of Brighton Gin rock off the stick and pop it in the G&T. The longer you leave it, the more the rock will dissolve into the drink as it gets sweeter and more blue!

If you’re not sure about the super-bitter classic Negroni, try this lighter, more elegant and fluffier version. INGREDIENTS 25mL Brighton Gin Pavilion Strength (you can also use the Seaside here) 25mL Campari 25mL vermouth 20mL fresh lime juice 20mL aquafaba METHOD Add all ingredients to a Boston shaker, shake over ice and strain back into the shaker. Dry shake and strain into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with a wheel of dried lime.

n o t h Brig Gin

THE TWELVE APOSTLES ARE A COLLECTION OF LIMESTONE STACKS OFF THE SHORE OF PORT CAMPBELL NATIONAL PARK, ALONG THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

spirit of the sea For some, gin conjures feelings of warmth and camaraderie tucked away in a speakeasy-style bar in the middle of a city. For others, it’s a versatile spirit that can work just as well as a summer spritz as a winter warmer. For these distillers, gin is all about the ocean. Bright, fresh, and playful on your palate, here are four of our favourite coastal gins.

Scotland’s Lind & Lime is a benchmark London Dry Gin; crisp, refreshing and delicious, a delicate balance of juniper and lime with the gentle spice of pink peppercorns. The beautiful bottle was custom designed as a tribute to Leith’s glass manufacturing history. Key aromas include juniper and citrus followed by white pepper, lime peel and coriander. Fully organic and plastic free. ABV 44%

www.manlyspirits.com.au

LIND & LIME GIN

www.greatoceanroadgin.com.au

https://lindandlime.com/

GUVVOS CONTEMPORARY DRY GIN

Inspired by native botanicals from the Great Ocean Road, Guvvos is a modern take on a classic dry style. It’s a luscious citrus gin, with crisp clean juniper, and savoury ocean notes. There are 24 botanicals, nine of which are local to the Surf Coast region, including coast daisy, saltbush, 24 pigface, kelp, indigenous eucalypts and local honey. ABV 41%.

GUVVOS BEACH ANGLESEA, VIC

https://manlyspirits.com.au/ MANLY NSW

MANLY SPIRITS COASTAL CITRUS GIN

SEABOURNE COASTAL DRY GIN

A modern dry gin with piney and citrus notes from native white kunzea flower and sunrise lime. Awash with the freshness of river mint and a spice-driven undercurrent of mountain pepperleaf, juniper and local sea parsley. A slow sipper, best enjoyed over ice with premium tonic and a wedge of grapefruit. ABV 43%

https://seabournedistillery.com.au

Coastal Citrus Gin is all about summer hazy days, from beach to balmy nights, with good company thrown in. The flavour inspiration comes from the Australian coast and its native pantry. Earthy citrus notes from lemon aspen partner with fresh coriander leaf to give a punchy citrus hit, which is offset by the delicate savoury flavours from local sea parsley. All of this is rounded out with the classic juniper backbone. Serve with a premium tonic and garnish with a slice of lemon. ABV 43%.

Have you

tried?

COASTAL TONIC A dry, low-bitterness tonic that, through a unique blend of delicate coastal botanicals, heroes the nuances of any topshelf gin. https://strangelove.com.au/

GIN LIBRARY Read all about GIN

What’s in The Gin Society Library?

AU S T R A L I A N GIN BOOK

by David Box (Gintonica $39.95) In Australian Gin, David Box and contributors including Jon Lark (KI Spirits), Dave Irwin and Matt Argus (Patient Wolf ), Cameron Mackenzie (Four Pillars) and Phillip Jones (The Martini Whisperer) open up the world of Aussie gin. You’ll find detailed information on 80 distilleries that started the current gin craze; the people, the gins, their cellar doors and much more. There is also a list of dozens of newcomers. All for less than a bottle of craft gin. Australian Gin covers subjects such as: What exactly is gin? The history of Australian gin Different gin styles Starting a distillery The issues distilleries have to face How to enjoy gin and more!

STILL MAGIC

A GIN DISTILLER’S GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS

by Marcel Thompson (Booktopia $38.43) Still Magic will transport you back in time to the heady days of early gin making. This will help you understand and apply first principles. You will learn about botanicals, bases and blending; the 3Bs of gin making used by seventeenth-century gin makers in London, gin’s spiritual home. You will then learn about decision making, investigation, sampling, testing, improvements and launching; the D.I.S.T.I.L. process that drove gin production and consumption to unprecedented levels in eighteenthcentury London.

T H E AU S T R A L I A N BOOK OF GIN: VOLUME 1

(theaustraliangincollective $49.95) We took an incredible journey around Australia, knocking on the doors of hundreds of distilleries to meet the people who stood behind them. Discover the story of Australian Gin in this 240-page hardcover book. theaustraliangincollective.com.au

THE BIG BOOK OF GIN

By Dan Jones (Amazon $54.13 for hardcover) Starting with the history of gin, Dan Jones, bestselling gin author and cocktail enthusiast, reveals how the first distilleries opened in the UK in the 1600s, explains the nuts and bolts of making the beverage, as well as all the different trends it has experienced. He’ll take imbibers on a journey around the world to some of the top producers, uncovers new trends, and shares over 100 tasty recipes, from classic cocktails, batch drinks, new concoctions, homemade syrups and more, and answers all the gin questions you were afraid to ask.

Grab your G&T and have a listen to this great PODCAST NEVER NEVER DISTILLING’S CHAMPION GINS with co-founder Sean Baxter: by James Atkinson (https://drinksadventures.com.au/)

Never Never Distilling is undoubtedly one of the hottest distilleries in Australia at the moment. Founded in 2017 by Sean Baxter, George Georgiadis and Tim Boast, the independentlyowned company was recently named Champion Australian Distiller for the second year running at the 2021 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards.

DISTILLER OF THE YEAR THE SPIRIT BUSINESS S 2021

QUIRAING ON THE ISLE OF SKYE, SCOTLAND

THE GINSIDER This issue, we’re lucky to be joined by the Gin Society’s inaugural member, Diana Robertson. A Scottish native who adores the diversity of gin styles, Diana shares with us some unique insights into her history with this beloved spirit.

“

Islay is a truly magical place.

DI ANA

What do you love about gin as a spirit?

Its remarkable versatility! I can rustle up almost anything tasty with gin in the house. As long as the ice is plentiful and the garnish gives a zing, it’s the most refreshing and lovely opener to my evening. What draws you to gin?

I’d be lying if I didn’t say the look of the bottle. The explosion of gin’s popularity means there is such a wealth to choose from – and some really beautiful bottles like Tanglin Orchid Gin and Generous Gin that entice me. Glaswegin’s bottle made me laugh, so I had to have it.

G OTHI C G I N

Any particular gins you’re enjoying at the moment?

I haven’t found a better gin this year than Gothic – currently well-stocked and ready for entertaining this festive season. Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz and DIA N A R OBER T SON Malfy Con Arancia are such fun but I cannot go past Gothic for a classic G&T at the moment. What does your personal gin collection look like?

It is heavily weighted to the Scottish Isles. Most trips back to my homeland involve a visit to Islay, which is well-known as the ‘whisky isle’. One day, though, the Bruichladdich Distillery decided to

DIANA’S GINS

A few of her favourite gins of all time.

GIN MARE SPAIN One of the country’s most famous exports, Gin Mare’s distinctive blue-tinged bottle has popped up on bar shelves around the world since its launch in 2010. Featuring a blend of herbal botanicals including basil from Italy, rosemary from Greece and thyme from Turkey, it offers a fragrant taste of the Mediterranean.

ISLE OF HARRIS GIN SCOTLAND Nestled high in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides - the awardwinning Isle of Harris Gin is the distillery’s inaugural spirit release. Made with 9 carefully chosen botanicals: Local hand-harvested sugar kelp, Macedonian juniper berries, English coriander Seed, cubebs/ Javan pepper, bitter orange peel, angelica root, cassia bark, orris root and liquorice.

MALFY CON ARANCIA ITALY Malfy Gin is distilled in Italy, the birthplace of gin, distilled by the Vergnano family. Using Italian ingredients, including lemons from the Amalfi coast, gives Malfy its signature Italian flavour. Malfy Con Arancia Gin is distilled using the peel of Sicilian blood oranges, Italian juniper and four other botanicals. Blood oranges are a prized variety in Sicily and harvested in November.

THE BOTANIST SC OT LA N D

diversify and now to the world knows more about Islay via The Botanist, which is hugely popular and rightly so. Did you know a bloke called James hand-forages the wild botanicals whenever he fancies while he’s out with the dog? Islay is a truly magical place. Do you have a go-to garnish or mixer?

I feel like tonics do all the heavy lifting these days. You don’t need to be too flashy with garnishing when you can pour a StrangeLove Dirty Tonic in the glass and the job is done. I am a big fan of low maintenance, so freezing a punnet of blackberries or some sliced grapefruit is great to have at the ready with an aromatic tonic. Any memorable gin experiences you’d like to share?

My first gin and tonic was at about 12 years old when my dad left the room during an ad break. Most underage drinking in Scotland involved a two-litre bottle of cider passed around the park bench in the pouring rain, but I had formed my palate much earlier! I was a G&T fan from the get-go.

If you could travel anywhere in the world sample gin, where would it be?

Barcelona. It’s not far from another one of my favourites – Gin Mare, which is distilled in the small town of Vilanova on the Costa Dorada. Barcelona is literally asleep until 4pm and then there’s an explosion of people, scooters, music and heavenly foody smells – it comes to life! A crisp, cold G&T in the labyrinthine alleys of the Gothic Quarter would be perfect. What do you like most about the Gin Society?

My Gin Society delivery is such a highlight of the month – it’s so exciting to open and find this new bottle with all the provenance and notes to accompany. It makes the experience of trying a new gin so much more of an event. I love the little extras we get, like a mixer to try or a small-batch gin taster. It’s always a surprise.

G OTHI C QUARTER, BARCELONA I N SPAI N

I often wondered why Mum was always so giddy after her first gin. It wasn’t until I was much older and drinking legally with my parents that I realised my dad’s G&Ts were the equivalent of four standard drinks per sip. While I haven’t taken his style of free-pour on, I did learn to always use plenty of ice, and juice some lemon round the rim like a margarita – every sip is guaranteed to delight. What are your three desert-island gins?

The island would be the beautiful white sands of Harris in the Outer Hebrides and I wouldn’t have to take the gin with me. Isle of Harris Gin is outstanding; I wouldn’t need another.If you

WHATEVER YOUR GIN WE’VE GOT JUST . THE 34

O F YO U R D R I N K I S T H E M I X E R ,

M I X W I T H T H E B E ST

AUSSIE PINK GINS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS 5

Valentines Day Here are five Aussie pink-gin picks and tasty cocktails for Valentine’s weekend.

FORTY SPOTTED WILD ROSE GIN

HOBART

Forty Spotted Wild Rose is a fragrant floral garden of roses and violets, with lingering notes of juniper, refreshing citrus, and fairy-pink musk sticks. Perfect over ice or with a dash of soda while dreaming of summer sunshine. A wildly beautiful spirit, reminiscent of long weekends and shared experiences, let the sensation of wild rose, pink fairy floss and sweet citrus transport you away! 40% ABV. Made by Lark Distillery.gin with tonic, lemonade, or Prosecco. ABV 41%

TA S T I N G N O T E S The nose has hints of pink grapefruit and citrus fruits, notes of medicinal herbs, delicate spices and soft white flowers. On the palate it is fresh and fragrant, harmoniously combining the aromas of juniper, citrus and the bitter nuances of rhubarb. www.larkdistillery.com.au

VALENTINE’S DAY COCKTAIL

APPLEWOOD CORAL GIN ADELAIDE

Pink gin and lemonade tipple Pour 90mL gin into a glass, add 125mL of chilled Fentimans Rose Lemonade. Add lemon, lime, raspberries, ice cubes and mint. Remember to rub the mint leaves gently between your fingers to release the oils and aroma. Stir, sip and enjoy.

Inspired by the Great Barrier Reef and its tropical surrounds, the aromatics of strawberry gum, fragrant spice of riberries and salinity of karkalla, Coral Gin speaks true of a captivating Australian seascape. 43% ABV. www.applewooddistillery.com.au

PAIR CORAL GIN WITH LIGHT TONIC WATER BY STRANGELOVE

Recipe courtesy of www.thewellfedyogi.com

strangelove.com.au

Coral Gin Fizz cocktail recipe Add 60mL of Coral Gin, 30mL of pineapple juice, 30mL of cream, 1 tsp of molasses, 3 drops vanilla extract and 3 drops Wonderfoam into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake all the ingredients before keeping liquid but discarding ice. Dry shake and pour into tall glass and let it settle for 45 seconds. Top with ice and soda water then garnish with pineapple leaf or wattleseed.

B A B Y G I N MELBOURNE

BABY is a small-batch gin distilled with roseberry botanicals including pink rose petals, raspberry leaf, lemon verbena and chamomile. Veganfriendly and gluten- and sugar-free. 40% ABV. www.babypinkgin.com

“

Baby is described as being “unashamedly feminine” and a craft spirit “developed by women for women”. Baby Pink Valentine’s Day cocktail recipe Place 60mL Baby Pink Gin, 30mL dragonfruit and fig syrup, 30mL fresh lime juice and 120mL tonic water in a cocktail jug and stir gently until combined. Fill your glass with ice and serve with more fruit of the gods, edible flowers and fresh thyme.

To make the simple syrup: ¼ cup sugar, 2 figs sliced in half, a few chunks of frozen pink grapefruit and 1 cup water. Place all ingredients in saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer until liquid approximately halves. Refrigerate and cook before use. Recipe courtesy of The Margarita Mum.

ARGYLE PINK — NATIVE DRY GIN

EAST KIMBERLEY

Argyle Pink is a native dry pink gin and Hoochery’s tribute to the Kimberley Region, which they’ve called home for over 40 years. Named after the local dipping pond (Lake Argyle), this is a pink gin crafted the only way Hoochery knows how. 43.5% ABV N AT I V E B O TA N I C A L S Except for the elusive juniper berry, all the botanicals have been sourced from the East Kimberley Region. Wild mango, native white currant, native lemongrass, Boab leaves and coriander have each been picked and distilled for a distinctly East Kimberley expression. Add in the native bloodroots and you get a natural pink colouring for a truly native pink gin – a rare gem of the Kimberley. www.hoochery.com.au

EAST KIMBERLEY SOUTHSIDE

How to Add 50mL Argyle Pink Gin, 25mL fresh lime juice, 20mL sugar syrup and 8–10 fresh mint leaves into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake well then either strain out the mint leaves or pour straight into a glass. Garnish with mint and lime.

BONDI LIQUOR CO P I N K G I N SYDNEY

The Bondi original gin with a twist – steeped with rhubarb postdistillation to produce a blushingpink colour and tartness. 40% ABV. TA S T I N G N O T E S Botanicals: juniper, coriander, angelica root, lemon peel, wattleseed and cassia bark. Serve neat, on the rocks, or with CAPI Dry Tonic and a candied rhubarb stick. www.bondiliquor.com.au

EVERYDAY SALVATION NEGRONI

How to Add 45mL pink gin, 30mL fresh lemon juice, 15mL simple syrup and 30mL egg white. Dry-shake then shake with ice. Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with fresh strawberries and raspberries.

PINK GIN SOUR Recipe courtesy of www.magic.co.nz

Jagdev Singh

Q&A

WITH JAGDEV SINGH, C0-FOUNDER OF THE LOCAL DROP Around these parts we know him as Director at the Gin Society, but Jagdev Singh is perhaps better recognised as the founder of wine service The Local Drop. Following a big 2021, we sat down with Jag to discuss wine, community work, AFR Fast Starters, and his favourite gin at the moment.

What were some of the biggest highlights of 2021 for you?

2021 was busy. We doubled our staff, had more vans delivering, and offered plenty of amazing wine to our clients. Corporate supply has also come back with a bang post-COVID, with our Christmas gifting breaking all records.

Tell us about some of the fantastic charity work you’ve been doing in the community?

My wife and co-founder Emily had a brilliant idea to offer our clients the opportunity to purchase a box of fresh fruit and vegetables for someone who had lost their job due to COVID. Our suppliers, customers and strangers donated money, and we were able to pack fresh produce for anyone who needed it for six months straight. The goodwill towards people was enormous and something we will never forget.

You’ve been named on the AFR Fast Starters list for the second year in a row. What does that recognition mean for your team?

Recognition like that is great for all involved here. It brings great awareness of the business and confirms that we are heading in the right direction. In terms of growth for 2022, we are working on our mobile wine platform Textwine, which allows people to order what they are drinking while they are drinking it.

What is it that sets The Local Drop apart from other wine services?

People are busy and we don’t want to interrupt them with daily wine offers like our competitors do. The Groupon/Vinomofo/ Catch of the Day model has been done and isn’t what we want to be known for. We just want our clients to know we are there whenever they need us, and that they will always be looked after. We want to have a clear 40 line for our clients when they need us.

2020 Nocturne SR Rosé

2019 Scorpo ‘Eocene’ Chardonnay, $66 2017 Apsley Gorge Pinot Noir, $75 2020 Nocturne SR Rosé, $29

And what’s your favourite gin right now?

I’m a massive fan of Melbourne Gin Company ‘Single Shot’. The weight and polish of it is outstanding. I’ve also been trying a new gin out of Sydney that will be releasing in 2022 – exceptional!

How can people take advantage of offers through The Local Drop?

The best way for any Gin Society members to get in touch is to call 1800 903 885 and they will come straight through to me. Over the phone we can tailor a perfect collection to suit your taste and budget and get it on its way. And if you let me know that you’re a Gin Society member, we will add a little something extra for your first delivery!

THE LOCAL DROP

The Local Drop is a servicebased business that sells brilliant wine from across Australia and the world. It’s a wine club with a difference. Joining The Local Drop doesn’t just get you a monthly box of delicious surprises. As a member you’ll also have unlimited access to your Personal Sommelier’s expertise and connections.

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2017 Apsley Gorge Pinot Noir

What are some of the best wines people should be drinking over summer?

About

WE HAVE AN EVER-CHANGING SELECTION OF WINES BUT PRIDE OURSELVES ON SPEED, ACCESS AND SERVICE,” SAYS JAG. thelocaldrop.com.au

2019 Scorpo ‘Eocene’ Chardonnay

There’s a bar on York Street in Sydney called

IN 2020 IT WAS NAMED WORLD GIN BAR OF YEAR IT SERVES 732 DIFFERENT GINS AND ONE RANGE OF TONIC

JUST ONE

The Artisan Drinks range

BUY ONLINE

www.ArtisanDrinks.com.au

Refer a friend AND RECEIVE A FREE BOTTLE OF LE TRIBUTE GIN WORTH $95 FOR YOU BOTH TO SHARE.

FREE

Tell your friend to mention you when they sign up to Gin Society and we will send YOU a bottle of Le Tribute!

Each month, a Gin Society expert shares their review. To talk about Brighton Gin, here’s Andrew Burge, the founder of The Gin Society.

The Review: Brighton Gin 44

GIN REVIEW

4.5

Andy’s tasting notes

Brighton Gin Pavilion Strength (40%) is a classic British gin. The wonderful notes of juniper on the nose combined with hints of orange make this gin gentle and approachable. This is a subtle gin that presents with a clean and crisp palate. The citrus is the leading character with a slightly floral tinge mid-taste. The finish comes on with the influence of spice that gives a lovely warm and gentle hit of heat. Brighton Gin’s botanicals include lime, milk thistle and locally grown coriander seeds. It’s also 100% vegan and gluten free. This multi award winning gin makes for a remarkably refreshing summer G&T or sipped neat over ice with a slice of orange. 45

GIN SOCIETY GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS Perfect for the gin lover in your life, a subscription to the Gin Society is a passport to the incredible world of craft gins. Available for 2, 4 or 6 box gift memberships. visit www.ginsociety.com