When it comes to distilled juniper, Sydney is fast becoming a worthy contender for the global gin capital. Once you’ve had enough of Sydney’s sun, sea and sand, we’ve rounded up the best ways to experience Australia’s most beautiful combination in the harbor city.
Archie Rose
Sydney’s reputation for distilled juniper is attracting global attention. The unique native flora that gives the clear spirit its unique Down Under flavor attracts connoisseurs from far and wide. In fact, on the daily distillery tour of the roseberry institution Archie Rose, I join gin enthusiasts from as far away as Belgium and the US.
Archie Rose – named for the fifth Earl of Rosebery – was the city’s first craft spirits distillery, setting up shop 10 minutes from Sydney’s CBD in 2014. On the tour, our guide Glenn shows us around the small town, affectionately referred to as Jennifer Lopez. During the three-hour gin-making process.
We’re surprised to discover that Ginnifer is hiding inside the distillery, which naturally features two giant whiskey spirit extractors, nicknamed Biggie and Tupac. ‘We actually started out distilling whiskey,’ explains Glenn. ‘But we needed to make some money because whiskey is aged in barrels, so we came up with gin.’ And who brought Archie Rose to wider popularity. Its signature dry, featuring 14 botanicals, has been recognized as one of the best in show locally and globally.
Despite the seemingly nonchalant approach to such a successful alternative income stream, I’m told that Archie’s master distiller, Dave Withers, takes the process extremely seriously, using only local botanicals and local, seasonal ingredients. ‘If something is out of season, we’ll mix it with other flavors that are in season and wait for other produce to come back in season,’ says Glenn.
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In addition to the daily distillery tours, Archie Rose also runs the folks. Infusion classes where you’ll get a gin history lesson before free rein at Archie Rose Botanical Distillates to create your own take-home blend. Anything goes here – this is the same team that created Butter and Vegemite-style flavored vodka.
Poor Toms Gin Bar
In Shakespeare’s King Lear, the character of Poor Tom is a symbol of madness, as the once sane Edgar descends into his alter ego due to poverty and insanity. In short, an unusual character for your genie’s name. But then again, poor Toms Jin is anything but ordinary.
Nestled in a cave yet homely Gin Hall in suburban Merrickville since 2015, Poor Toms gin contains ingredients that sound a little crazy, like a Shakespearean character. The signature Sydney Dry, for example, enhances juniper with fresh notes of green apple, strawberry gum leaf and chamomile. Things get worse when the ever-changing menu shakes it into cocktails. This month, you can enjoy it in the ‘Swanky Panky’: raspberry-infused gin, rose vermouth, blue cheese, chipotle (yes), finished with a splash of Fernet Branca. A delicious libation paired with the best pizza the bar staff is happy to order from around for you. Mom’s Pizza.
Barber shop
It is these Australian ingredients that are key to the identity of Aussie gin. Barber/gin owner Mickey Enright says ‘I think Australian native botanicals are quite rare in spirits, and it’s incredible that Australian gins are being recognized globally for these interesting local flavors such as strawberry gum and pepperberry. To be recognized’. Bar Concept Barbershop on York St
The establishment has just under 700 gins, including major Australian names and a few experimental ones. ‘We have some useless people there like Ant-Jin. I recently tasted a truffle with a hint of beetroot and cumin… it actually tastes like an Indian curry!’ Mickey added. ‘And I think we’ve only scratched the surface of the flavors… I think it’s just going to keep growing. Australian gin is in a really good place at the moment.’
To fully appreciate the diversity of Australian flora on a global scale, start with the Australian Flight at Barbershop. The tasting will take you through fellow New South Welshman Brockie’s dry gin as well as samples from Archie Rose. Never, and an offer from Victoria’s Four Pillars (which is setting up shop in Sydney very soon). After that, you can try and work your way through the more extensive gin compendium (the ‘menu’ doesn’t cut it here), along with classic bar bites – meats, cheeses, dips.
Moya’s Juniper Lounge
Gin is one of the world’s most versatile spirits. A staple of the most popular classic cocktails. It’s in that spirit (pardon the pun) that Charles and Jess Casbin started. Moya’s Juniper Lounge A typical visit to Redfern serves as a crash course in their world tour of gin, with menu notes for each cocktail, surrounded by period furniture and vintage decor. Moya’s Cocktail Masterclass takes you back to a simpler time, but if you’re in the mood to kick back, take advantage of the monthly ‘Martini Club’. $10 worth of drinks and jazz; Why not pair your fun with some of the simple cheese and charcuterie offerings on the menu?