Small Acre Gin

In the Adelaide Hills of South Australia, Ambleside Distillers makes Small Acre Gin at 42% ABV. It is a garden-led gin, with rhubarb grown on site setting the first impression. Its soft sweetness is followed by apple and pear, before pepper berry and bay leaf bring the profile back toward earth and green herbs. The sequence is clear and measured: orchard fruit at the front, then a dry, savoury edge rather than a lingering confectionery sweetness.

Fruity · Herbal · Earthy

The distillery calls it a herbaceous everyday gin and a testament to the botanicals grown in its own garden, where the rhubarb is joined by a longer list of plants. JuniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary supplies the familiar structure; the garden-grown rhubarb and orchard fruit give it a distinctly Australian seasonal accent, while pepper berry and bay leaf add a more grounded finish. Ambleside presents Small Acre as an everyday gin with enough range for cocktails, not as a narrowly prescribed recipe. The fruit and leafy notes leave room for simple pairings that do not crowd the glass.

For a straightforward serve, Ambleside recommends fresh basil and a coastal-style tonic. In a gin and tonic, the basil echoes the leafy side of the profile, while the tonic's savoury, gently saline character can sit alongside the rhubarb and orchard fruit. A pear garnish is another fitting option: the distillery specifically pairs pear with Small Acre, making it a useful alternative when a softer fruit accent is preferred. The bottle is 700 ml at 42% ABV, and its awards include Best Gin at Tasting Australia in 2020 and gold there in 2021, double gold at the 2020 SIP Awards and gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition the same year.