This terrific small batch gin, inspired by the flavours of the Mornington Peninsula, is distilled by our friends Garagiste Vintners in collaboration with Brogan’s Way Distillery. Long recognised as one of Victoria’s finest boutique winemakers, Barney and Cam’s foray into craft spirits was inspired by the idea of combining some of the coastal ingredients indigenous to the peninsula—samphire and saltbush—with some of the spicy aromatic notes often found in their Pinot Noirs—fennel, clove and citrus peel. To this end, Balcombe uses 15 different botanicals, including local samphire, saltbush and fennel to impart the all-important coastal experience. The guys then use long pepper, orange peel, lemon myrtle, lavender, as well as coriander and ginger for complexity. Of course, there are plenty of juniper notes to balance the powerful coastal character.
The team use a hybrid CARL still and the neutral grain spirit is distilled to 92% before being diluted back. The juniper is macerated overnight to maximise extraction and minimise waste, and all ingredients are added to the still in the morning for a days distillation, before resting for 4-6 weeks before cutting, blending and bottling.
Distilled under the experienced eye of Brogan Carr, this ‘winemaker’s gin’ is textural, complex and refined, with citrussy freshness, saline charm and notable, impressive balance.