Tour & DYI Gin Blending
Sydney once had a thriving distilling industry, at least until 1853, but now, in 2015, the newest distilling company, Archie Rose, has opened; and as a part of the celebrations some tours were offered along with a chance to blend your very own brand of gin.
My sister, Lenore, and I each started the blending with a couple of bottles of base spirit and eight botanicals; using your nose and tasting as you went (if you were game and were not driving), you developed your own blend, using a syringe, drop by drop and ml by ml.
The first one I did was deemed very good by the Archie Rose team ( more by luck than good management), the second a total disaster, too much ginger so they kindly let me have another go and this 3rd attempt was also a success, and now at least did have some knowledge behind the mix.
Botanicals Blend 1 Blend 2 Blend 3
200 ml base spirit 200 ml base spirit 200 ml base spirit
Juniper - dry - strong pine aroma 1 ml 2 ml 2 ml
Angelica root - earthy flavour 1 ml 1 ml 1ml
Lemon Myrtle - lemon drops .05 ml .1 ml .1 ml
Blood Lime - fruit tingles 2 ml 3 ml 3 ml
Cassia Bark - spice cinnamon nil nil nil
Fresh Ginger binds other flavours 2 ml 2 ml .15 ml
Dorrigo Pepperleaf - herbal pepper 1 ml nil nil
River Mint - clean fresh vibrant 2 ml 3 ml 3 ml
If you ever get the chance this was a great night out and a real learning experience. Or you can just go to Archie Rose and do a a gin flight - either a world flight or an Australian Gin flight.
(see: www.archierose.com.au )