Every year, when Christmas rolls around, we all feel the pressure of having a well-stocked bar. But past the usual beers and wines, here’s how to bring some Aussie spirit to your home bar this December.
From the creator of amazing products like the truly unique Finger Lime Gin and Hibiscus Flower Gin with Ginger comes something that will really spruce up your tree this year (sorry for the pun).
In fact, two of these six different hand-crafted Aussie gins—each in its own Christmas tree bauble bottle—are the Finger Lime Gin and the Hibiscus Gin with Ginger.
The other four 50ml-54ml servings are Wattleseed Gin, Pepperberry Gin, Snow Chrysanthemum Gin and the amazing Butterfly Pea Flower Gin, which changes colour when you add tonic.
For more about the Wild Hibiscus Distilling Co and the man behind the brand Lee Etherington, check out our story here.
All these gins are vegan-friendly and contain no added colours or flavours. Some contain edible flowers and fruit.
From the beautiful, rugged shores of South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, home to some of the country’s finest produce, this festive gin really wholeheartedly embraces Christmas.
Hints of cinnamon, cloves and mixed spice with bursts of dried fruit running through the smooth, almost tactile gin base make this the perfect sipping spirit at the end of a big ol’ Christmas dinner.
And the bottle even comes in its own daggy-Christmas-jumper print presentation box!
Inspired by the island’s Old Mulberry Tree—an historic site where the oldest living fruit tree* grows—Kangaroo Island Spirits have created a gin than not only speaks of this history, but that is the perfect Christmas tipple too.
It reminds me of when I was a lad in England, picking sloe berries for my mum and dad to make their sloe gin for Christmas—though I have a feeling Kangaroo Island Spirits’ is infinitely smoother, with the tartness and smoothness of the seasonal mulberries creating an elegance in this gin like no other.
*Old Mulberry Tree was planted in 1836 and is connected with the first official European colonisation of South Australia.
Dan and Kristin Lemura started their distillery off the back of a long stint in hospitality. And from some of Melbourne’s top venues to running their own bar, The Noble Experiment, the Lemuras know what’s needed in a great gin.
And since moving to the outskirts of Bendigo to set up The Noble Bootleggers Distillery, they’ve put their knowledge and experience into practice with this Christmas Pudding Gin.
Aromas of mince pies and Christmas pud, and a fresh, lively palate that finishes with spices and fruit cake flavours, this is a gin to enjoy next to the tree.
Best enjoyed over ice with a good squeeze of fresh lime, with soda or a dry ginger ale, the Noble Bootleggers’ Christmas Pudding Gin is the perfect tipple for the festive season.
The juggernaut that is Four Pillars Distilling Co broke the Internet a few years ago with their Christmas Gin. Every December since then, it’s been a staple for many of us.
To create this gin, head distiller Cam McKenzie distills whole Christmas puddings in January then ages the gin in 100-year-old Muscat barrels for the rest of the year until it’s time for Santa season.
The result is a juniper-forward barrel-aged gin with aromas of baking spices like cinnamon and clove, and a rich, mouth-filling palate.
If you’re looking to give the one you love more range to enjoy than just a single bottle, Nip of Courage has some amazing gift packs three 100ml and 200ml bottles from the likes of Starward Whisky, Lark Distillery and 78 Degrees.
Even better, why not have a Nip of Courage hamper made up?
Inside this carefully compiled box of goodies is a bottle of spirits (choose from Stone Pine Distillery’s Dry Gin or Seasonal Rhubarb Gin, or Kangaroo Island Spirits’ Mulberry Gin).
You also get a mini cocktail shaker, a jar of Drunken Sailor Beetroot and Gin relish, a 689g tin of Cadbury Roses Limited Edition ‘Mandaang Guwu’ chocolates, Queen B Beeswax Wrap, a packet of cauliflower puffs and even a gift card that we’ll add your personalised message to.
Not bad for $130!
If in doubt, why not grab a Nip of Courage gift voucher? It means whoever you’re gifting will have up to three years to choose their Aussie craft spirit and we’ll email you (or the lucky recipient direct if you so wish) with the voucher. Pretty good, huh?