Australian gin – like many other locally-made spirits – have come a long way in recent years. Long gone are the days of sipping down Beefeater and Vickers because it was all we had, and now are the times of proud Aussie distilleries producing some truly fine drops of this delightfully floral spirit.
In fact, there are so many wonderful Australian gin labels available today that it’s safe to say us Aussies are a little spoiled for choice. With the likes of the soon-to-be legendary Four Pillars, Poltergeist and Prohibition Liquor Co. (among many others) producing the spirit in stunning varieties, it’s easy to see why we are turning away from the bottles of old and towards new, refreshing drops.
Another thing worth noting: our gin is absolutely perfect for adding to some classic cocktails. And we’re not talking your basic G&T, we’re talking some truly blissful blends that will inspire your love for the Aussie drop even further.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of these summer day cocktails and why Aussie varieties are perfect for them:
- The Bramble
Dick Bradsell created The Bramble in 1980s London, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use a fine pour of home-distilled Never Never Brewing Co. to enjoy it with:
Ingredients:
- 45mls spirit;
- 20mls fresh squeezed lemon juice;
- 10mls sugar syrups;
- 15ml Marionette Cassis;
- Crushed ice
- Fresh lemon (for garnish);
- Rocks glass
Recipe:
- Pour your spirit into the rocks glass.
- Next, pour in the lemon juice, followed by the sugar syrup and then a touch of the Marionette Cassis;
- Fill that glass up with ice;
- Pour over the remaining Marionette Cassis before adding that fine lemon garnish to finish off what is a truly classy cocktail.
2. The Southside
No one is quite sure where this legendary cocktail came from, but many believe that it derives from southside Chicago, where some say it was Al Copone’s favourite beverage during the time of his region-wide domination. Regardless of its murky origins, it is a truly delicious cocktail and can easily be enjoyed with an Australian gin:
Ingredients:
- 60mls spirit;
- 30mls fresh squeezed lime juice;
- Mint or basil leaves for garnish;
- Strainer;
- Martini glass.
Recipe:
- Add the spirit to your cocktail shaker before adding the lime juice and mint leaves;
- Shake it up like crazy before double straining into a martini glass;
- Garnish with a fresh mint leaf and enjoy like you were Al “Scarface” Capone himself.
3. The Charlie Chaplin
The origin of this famously-named cocktail dates way back to the 1920s (obviously), when it was first shaken at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel and named after, uh, yeah, the silent film star Charlie Chaplin.
The long-deceased actor might scoff at the idea of using spirit that comes from way Down Under, but hey, we’re saying it tastes just as good (if not better than any other variety you will find in the modern distillery era, so here goes:
Ingredients
- 40ml spirit;
- 25ml apricot brandy;
- 20ml fresh lime juice;
- Coupe glass;
- Shaker;
- Fresh lime slice for garnish.
Recipe:
- Pour the spirit into your shaker before adding the apricot brandy and lime juice;
- Shake it like mad;
- Pour into your coupe glass and garnish with lime.
So, there you have it, some truly special ways you can enjoy this delightful spirit, especially when you consider making them with a fine bottle of MGC or Brookies Byron.
They are sure to delight your senses with their fabulous flavour profile, and this is a winner for any fan of the New World spirit!