Davidsonia is Animus Distillery's delicious riff on a traditional English Sloe Gin. Instead of sloes (Prunus spinosa), the distillers work with native Australian Davidsonia pruriens, a tropical sour plum sourced from the temperate regions of Queensland. Snap-frozen (so the ice can help the distilled spirit to pierce the cell walls faster and provide an immediate release of explosive, fresh juicy flavour), the plums were steeped in an over-proofed version of the Animus Macedon Dry recipe for 18 months. They were then gently squeezed over an eight-hour period in the distillery's own wine press, extracting that distinctly Animus measure of intensity and character.
As a seasonal, produce-driven Gin, each vintage of Davidsonia has its own personality, and the 2022 is both the most stylish and delicate so far. This year's release is rife with bright and aromatic top notes of ripe plum, lemon and rosehip, while the palate is full of lip-smacking zing, morello cherry and hints of guava. You'll still find those gentle, puckering tannins and lime-like acidity to balance the plummy sweetness.
Davidsonia is exquisite when served neat and over ice, as a spritz served with a large wedge of your favourite citrus, but it’s born to be used in cocktails, and provides a uniquely Australian canvas to anybody who wants to explore their creativity. Because of its trademark delicate nature, Davisonia is best enjoyed over days and weeks rather than months (or kept in the fridge), so you can appreciate the seasonal differences while they are fresh. This vintage is so good we doubt you'll be able to hang onto an open bottle for long!