The Antipodes Australian Organic Gin (700ml)

Volume: 700ml         ABV: 45%           Age: No Age Statement           Country: Australia

Having a point of difference is vital for any product, and along comes a brand new gin from South Australia that stands distinct in the crowded Australian craft gin scene. Antipodes Gin is the brain child of Shane Reid and Rory Gration and is Australia’s first certified organic and carbon neutral gin.

With Australian craft spirits still only making up less than 5% of the spirits consumed in Oz, we’re talking a niche within a niche.

Overall the language of Australian gin to date has been about the place where its from, the personalities (usually a one or two man operation) and the botanicals chosen to make it distinct to its place and country, particularly when natives are used.

Shane and Rory have kept the look + feel deceptively simple… a minimalist website and a facebook page with some lovely shots taken by Shane, who’s a photographer by profession.

Produced in South Australia, which is seeing its own growth in several new + pending gin makers this year, but both Rory + Shane grew up in Australia’s citrus growing region, Sunraysia, and wanted a gin that reflected something of the country they knew.

-Review by The Martini Whisperer

Tasting Notes by The Martini Whisperer

Some of the gins I’ve  reviewed recently feature native Pepperberry as botanical, as does Antipodes. But unlike the others, where its very front and centre, this is present in the background and offers a subtle spice note forward on the palette.

Likewise the juniper and other botanicals are very harmonious and quiet. To my taste this is a good thing.

What does stand out distinctively is a residual sweetness and a lingering lemon myrtle flavour which is really pleasant.

It comes in at 45% ABV and its alcohol isn’t very noticeable to taste or smell.

In a very dry Martini (10ml of Dolin to 50 ml of gin) the botanicals lifted some more and you get a dry finish, but not too austere, again with a lingering lemon semi-sweet note.

I wouldn’t add a lemon twist as a garnish to this, that would be too much, but some fresh lemon thyme would sing, but an olive garnish worked just fine.

Not a style for a dirty Martini though.

Overall effect is a soft and dry finish that is quite subtle and the residual sweetness very appealing and distinctive.

But it was in a G+T (fevertree tonic was used) that it was fantastic, zesty, clean and refreshing, just perfect. Just don’t use Schweppes, that would be way too sweet!