The fruit was de-stemmed but kept mainly as whole berries, and the tanks were kept cold and stirred daily. Different distilling techniques are employed along with different equipment to help dial in the exact extraction of botanicals these distillers want to infuse into their gin. This further adds to the great range of gins out there and is one of the primary reasons why we’ll never stop seeing new and exciting gins being released around the world. We know that choosing the right gin is going to be a very personal thing – after all, everyone’s tastes are different – but there are still a few things to consider when buying a flavoured gin. Are all flavoured gins sweet?

We’d be crazy not to use the incredible calibre of cool climate fruit available to us in the Yarra Valley. So we steeped Yarra Valley Shiraz grapes in high proof Rare Dry Gin for eight weeks. While there are some fantastic fruit gins out there, it’s not all about the berries. Nowadays you can find all kinds of interesting flavoured gins from bold citruses like lemon and blood orange, to the highly unusual like rose, cardamom and even seaweed.Applewood Distillery pays tribute to Indigenous Australians by using only native ingredients, showcasing the many distinctive flavours of the great southern land with a great sense of vibrancy and flavour. The citrus and spice focus of Apple Distillery’s signature would elevate any G&T, but the unique Coral Gin is actually the best from this distillery. Stuart Gregor, co-founder of Four Pillars, said: “Taking our Bloody Shiraz Gin to the drinkers of Britain is a lot like selling coals to Newcastle, just a lot more fun. The world of gin and distilleries like ours is indebted to the couple of centuries of great gin-making in the UK; without you, there is no us. Maybe you’ve found yourself wondering how gin is made, well this daring gin experiment features locally sourced cool climate Shiraz grapes soaked in our Rare Dry Gin and it has rapidly attained a devoted following, striking the perfect harmony between delectable fruitiness and the unmistakable essence of gin. The result? Well no gin-based drink we have ever seen has tasted quite like this. It is far removed from our regular Bloody Shiraz Gin; deeper in colour, higher in alcohol, more intense in sweetness and considerably more complex in flavour. The tannins are stronger and the Amaro-like bitterness adds a dryness that makes this very sippable.

In 2015 They made their home in Healesville, Yarra Valley in what was once a timber yard. Four Pillars Distillery brings together everything under one roof. They make and experiment with gin on one side, while we serve up drinks and tastings on the other.While Old Young’s Distillery, listed above, is one of the more relatively obscure distilleries in Western Australia, the same can’t be said for The West Winds Gin. Located in the very productive and valuable Margaret River, long known as a hotbed of Australia’s finest produce on that side of the country, the distillery uses local botanicals and rainwater to give its signature gins a very clean, pure palate that’s open and incredibly adaptable to the various natural flavours. It’s easily some of the best gin Australia has seen to date.

The resultant gin is an incredibly rich, deep purple colour, which turns iridescent pink when mixed with tonic or soda. It delivers deep red berry fruit flavours with notes of cassis and a touch of citrus. Soft smooth and velvety, finishing with a grip of Gin and notes of Juniper — truly the ultimate Spirit of the Barossa. We also landed at 41.8% alcohol by volume, which is around 10% stronger than the regular Bloody Shiraz Gin which sits at 37.8% ABV. The additional alcohol engenders more warmth and extra ‘oomph’ to the palate.Four pillars currently produce 3 different diveres and exciting gins made in Australkia’s famous Yarra valley, known for its superb wines, but also now for great Australian gins.

Come mid-2020 he was wondering about the gin in these barrels and a simple thought came to mind – “What if we bought a tonne of shiraz from Yarra Yering, off Underhill ideally and made a super intense Bloody Shiraz gin, somehow also utilising the gins in the YY barrels . . .”

Australian Christmas Gin

Flavour-wise it’s showing dark fruit, red berry and spice. There is also plenty of that classic Yarra Shiraz white pepper. And of course a lovely ginny character carries those grape aromas, making it unmistakably gin. The palate is lovely and sweet, with long juniper and spice characters to finish. That’s because the Signature Dry Gin is too hard to separate from the company. For many Aussies, it’s the best gin in the country. And while that’s debatable, the decidedly modern take on a classic dry gin is hard to deny. We loved the resultant drink, but thought it could do with some additional bitterness so we added a small amount of organic gentian to balance out the intense sweetness,” the distillery notes. Never Never Distilling Co has really emerged as one of Australia’s MVPs over the past few years, managing more than just a few international awards and putting forth some of the best gins the country has ever showcased on a world stage. From the special releases like the latest Dark Series Oyster Shell Gin, a celebration of Australia’s coastline worked up in collaboration with Melbourne’s Society Restaurant, to the classic Tripe Juniper Gin, Never Never Distilling Co offers plenty for gin lovers to get across. Archie Rose Distilling Co is now one of the most prolific in the industry, constantly and consistently pushing out impressive, award-winning spirits across gin, rye whisky and vodka. All three spirits are considered equally important for the Sydney distillery’s immense growth over the years, although arguably Archie Rose Distilling Co is most recognised as a gin distillery.