Southern Strength Gin

Southern Strength Gin is a 52% ABV Australian gin from Never Never Distilling Co. built with the distillery's Triple Juniper process. It was named World's Best Classic Gin in 2019 and uses the same nine-botanical framework as Triple Juniper Gin, but with adjusted proportions that place lemon peel, coriander seed and angelica root more firmly in the foreground. The 500 mL bottling is made for classic cocktails and for drinkers who want a high-proof gin with a clear juniper core.

Citrus · Dry · Spicy · Earthy

Its production gives juniper three roles: berries steep in Australian wheat spirit for 24 hours, the steep and fresh juniper go into the still, and a final juniper addition in the vapour basketVapour infusionBotanicals sit in a basket above the liquid, so only the alcohol vapour passes through them, for a lighter, fresher extraction.Glossary captures a fresher floral note. Coriander seed, angelica rootAngelicaThe root of a tall umbellifer, earthy and musky. After juniper and coriander it is the most common botanical: it binds the aromas and holds the finish.Glossary, orris rootOrris rootIris rhizome dried for years, then ground. Powdery and violet-like, it mainly works as a fixative that binds and lengthens the other aromas.Glossary, lemon peel, lime peel, liquorice root, cinnamon and Australian pepper berry complete the botanical frame.

The nose is piney and fragrant, mixing bright citrus with earthy angelica and lifted coriander.

The palate is oily, viscous and immediately savoury, yet juniper remains dominant. Lemon brings a fresher attack while the roots and spice give depth. Late in the finish, pepper berry and cinnamon introduce warmth without taking the gin away from its dry, structured character.

Use 5 cl of Southern Strength Gin with 15 cl of Fever-Tree Indian Tonic WaterIndian tonicThe classic tonic: sparkling water, bitter quinine and sugar. The name recalls colonial India, where quinine warded off malaria.Glossary over large clear iceClear iceIce without air bubbles, made by slow, directional freezing. Denser, it melts more slowly and dilutes less.Glossary. A single lemon peel twistTwistA strip of peel twisted over the glass to release its oils, then dropped into the drink.Glossary is sufficient. This ratio keeps the higher strength in balance and lets the tonic sharpen the citrus and juniper rather than dilute the gin into a generic long drink. Stir only once or twice to keep the effervescence intact.

It is equally at home in a dry martiniDry MartiniGin and a little dry vermouth, stirred over ice and served in a well-chilled stemmed glass, with an olive or a twist.Glossary or a NegroniNegroniAn Italian cocktail of equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and red bitter (Campari), served over ice with orange peel. Born in Florence in 1919.Glossary, where its concentration gives the gin a defined voice alongside other strong ingredients. For a first tasting, begin with a small chilled measure and return to the glass after a few minutes to follow the movement from citrus and pine to angelica, pepper and cinnamon.