Animus Distillery Ambrosian Gin

Animus Distillery Ambrosian Gin is a Macedon Ranges gin built around South-East Asian aromatics.

Fifteen botanicals go in, and the interesting ones are fresh: mandarin, lime, young makrut lime leaf, ginger and galangal, with white sesame seed for body and a nutty edge at the close. Juniper, cardamom, angelica root, clove, coriander seed, turmeric, lemon myrtle and star anise hold the frame. The distillery works out of Kyneton, where Luke Jacques and head distiller Sarah Wallace grow much of what they use and pick it on the day of distillation. What could easily have turned into a shouting match of flavours is instead clean and well proportioned, with a soft, almost fluffy texture across the palate.

Zesty and spicy, with tangy citrus up front and rooty ginger heat behind. Serve over plenty of ice with a good tonic and a wedge of lime, or use it where a gin needs to hold its own: a Gimlet, a spicy Collins, a Southside with Thai basil.