Sweet orange, lemon myrtle and Geraldton wax set a warm citrus direction for Southerly Gin without leaving juniper behind. It is citrus-forward and names sweet orange, juniper, coriander, cardamom, native lemon myrtle and Geraldton wax among the botanicals. That gives the gin a warmer, brighter register than Sea Spray from the same distillery. Where Sea Spray leans into navy strength intensity, Southerly aims for an easy but still structured Australian dry gin.

The aroma opens with orange and lemon myrtle, giving a fresh citrus lift that feels more natural than confectionery-like. Juniper sits underneath with a dry pine note, while coriander and cardamom bring familiar gin spice. Geraldton wax is important because it adds a local floral-citrus accent and keeps the profile connected to Western Australia. In the mouth, the gin is clean, gently spicy and lifted, with orange sweetness suggested by peel rather than by sugar.

Southerly works because it is direct without feeling basic. The botanical story is easy to follow: citrus on top, juniper at the centre, spice and native florals around the edges. It is the sort of gin that can introduce drinkers to Australian botanicals without making the drink difficult. At the same time, the use of lemon myrtle and Geraldton wax gives enough distinction for the bottle to stand apart from a generic citrus dry gin.

The Perfect Serve follows a clean long-drink direction: Indian tonic over clear ice with dried orange. A small lemon myrtle leaf, when available, reinforces the aromatic lift. A clean, lightly sweetened tonic preserves the brightness of the orange-led profile. Grapefruit or soda would also work, but the dried orange tonic serve is the clearest recommendation for this citrus-led profile.