Ester Barrel Aged Gin No 02

Ester Barrel AgedBarrel-aged ginGin rested for a while in wooden casks. It picks up a golden colour and notes of vanilla, spice or the wine that filled the cask before.GlossarySee Barrel-aged gin gins Gin No. 02 begins with The Strong, Ester Spirits' 57% navy-strengthNavy StrengthGin bottled at 57% ABV or more. Royal Navy lore holds that at this strength, gunpowder soaked in gin would still ignite.GlossarySee Navy Strength gins gin, then spends time maturing in new French oak. That sequence gives this Australian gin two clear points of reference: the concentrated botanical character of the underlying spirit and the influence of a fresh oak cask. The producer describes spicy juniper alongside vanilla, stewed stone fruit and fire-kissed wood, while the strength remains at 57% ABV.

Woody · Spicy · Navy Strength · Vanilla

The nose brings juniper forwardJuniper-forwardA classic profile where juniper clearly dominates, with resinous, piney notes.Glossary with a warmer, wood-led aroma than the unaged gin. Vanilla and cooked stone fruit soften the first impression, while toasted oak gives it a dry, gently smoky edge. The botanicals of The Strong remain part of the base: juniper, Tasmanian pepperberryTasmanian pepperberryA wild Australian berry: fruity at first, then a slowly building heat. It can tint the gin pink.Glossary, cardamom, finger limeFinger limeAn Australian citrus whose pulp forms tiny tart pearls that burst in the mouth.Glossary and macadamia. Here, their citrus and spice meet the richer accents gained during maturation rather than appearing as a separate layer of flavour.

On the palate, the cask character is rounded but not detached from the gin. Juniper and peppery spice keep the taste recognisably botanical; vanilla and stewed fruit lend a fuller, warming middle, followed by oak and a persistent dry finish. At 57%, the alcohol carries these flavours with considerable intensity. A small measure, tasted neat or with one large piece of ice, allows gradual dilutionDilutionThe water added by melting ice. In the right amount it opens the aromas and softens the alcohol; too much flattens the drink.Glossary to reveal the balance between spice, fruit and wood.

The producer points to an Old Fashioned as a natural way to serve No. 02. Stir 5 cl of gin with a small measure of sugar syrup and aromatic bittersBittersHighly concentrated bitters (Angostura, orange…), added in dashes to season a cocktail.Glossary over ice, then strain over a large clear cube. Express a strip of orange peel over the glass and use it as the garnish; a small piece of orange on a side plate completes the presentation. No tonic is needed here: the oak, vanilla and stone-fruit notes can stand beside the bitters without a carbonated mixer. Keep the added sweetness restrained so the juniper and cask remain clear through the finish.