Boatrocker Original Gin

Boatrocker Original Gin brings together eleven botanicals in a Melbourne-made recipe that pairs familiar gin ingredients with Australian strawberry gum and pepperberry. Bottled at 41.5% ABV, it is the distillery's central dry ginDry ginGin with no perceptible sweetness: in the European Union, the word "dry" allows at most 0.1 g of sugar per litre.GlossarySee Dry gin gins: juniper remains clear, while citrus, flowers and native spice give the blend its own local character.

Citrus · Spicy · Floral

On the nose, lemon and pink grapefruit lift the resinousResinousAn aroma reminiscent of pine or fir resin. It is juniper's signature, due to compounds such as pinene.Glossary scent of juniper. Lavender adds a measured floral note, and green cardamom brings a gentle warmth rather than a heavy spice. Strawberry gumStrawberry gumThe leaf of an Australian eucalyptus that smells of strawberry and red fruit.Glossary contributes an aromatic eucalyptus-like freshness; pepperberry adds a distinctly Australian pepper note. Almonds, coriander, orris and angelica complete the botanical set, lending the recipe a rounded, traditional gin framework.

The palate opens with juniper and bright citrus. Grapefruit gives the middle a fuller, slightly bitter edge, while lemon keeps it brisk. Cardamom and pepperberry appear as the sip develops, with the native leaf character of strawberry gum adding freshness. The result is dry in direction, but not austere: floral and nutty details soften the sharper citrus and spice. At 41.5%, the botanicals remain easy to follow both neat and in a mixed drink.

The distillery makes its spirits on site in Melbourne, and this gin reflects that combination of a classic juniper base with ingredients native to Australia. Its eleven botanicals are named by the producer, including the less familiar strawberry gum and pepperberry. Those two ingredients are not decorative additions: they give the gin a leafy, peppery signature alongside the more recognisable citrus, coriander and cardamom.

For a gin and tonic, serve 4 cl over clear iceClear iceIce without air bubbles, made by slow, directional freezing. Denser, it melts more slowly and dilutes less.Glossary in a balloon glassCopa glassA large stemmed balloon glass, popularised by the Spanish gin and tonic: it stays cold for longer and gathers the aromas above the drink.Glossary, add 10 cl of chilled Q Drinks Q Indian Tonic WaterIndian tonicThe classic tonic: sparkling water, bitter quinine and sugar. The name recalls colonial India, where quinine warded off malaria.Glossary and stir once. A thin blood-orange wheel and a small strip of orange peel bring out the citrus without covering the pepperberry. The same balance works in a Martini or a citrus-led long drink: keep the garnish restrained, so the juniper and native botanicals remain distinct.