Balcombe Coastal Gin

Balcombe Coastal Gin is a Mornington Peninsula gin built on coastal botanicals.

Garagiste Vintners, one of Victoria's better small wine producers, is behind this, made in collaboration with Brogan's Way Distillery. Barney Flanders and Cam Marshall wanted to put peninsula coastal plants, samphire and saltbush, next to the spicy aromatics they find in their own Pinot Noir, so fennel, clove and citrus peel went in too. Fifteen botanicals in all, with long pepper, orange peel, lemon myrtle, lavender, coriander and ginger adding complexity and plenty of juniper to balance the saline side. Neutral grain spirit is taken to 92 per cent on a hybrid CARL still and cut back, the juniper macerated overnight, everything else added in the morning for a day's run.

Saline and citrussy with a herbal, fennel-edged core and a refined, textural finish, a winemaker's gin in the best sense. Over ice with tonic and a strip of orange peel, or in a Martini with a green olive. It also makes a fine dirty Martini.