Threefold Barrel Aged Shiraz Gin

Shiraz and Mourvèdre grapes from South Australia and French oak shape Threefold 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 Shiraz Gin, a release of just 384 bottles. Bottled at 37.8% ABV in Adelaide, the cuvée takes its name, Shiraz Mourvèdre, from the two varieties. Juniper sits beneath the dark fruit and the wood.

Woody · Limited Edition · Fruity · Vanilla

Cherry and marzipan lead the tasting notes, followed by cacao nibs and bitter orange.

The palate moves towards chocolate ganache and bitter almond, with an impression of Black Forest cake, and vanilla bean rounds the close. French oak gives the gin a mature, layered texture, but the fruit stays in focus rather than disappearing behind the wood. Mourvèdre adds a darker, slightly savoury depth to the Shiraz's ripe fruit. At 37.8%, it is gentler than the Australian Whisky Cask release, and its dessert-like notes make it particularly suited to a small after-dinner glass. The colour is a deep ruby, drawn from the grapes and the oak.

The distillery recommends sipping it neat or over ice, which is the best way to start. A little dilutionDilutionThe water added by melting ice. In the right amount it opens the aromas and softens the alcohol; too much flattens the drink.Glossary brightens the fruit, but too much mixer would hide the marzipan, cacao and bitter orange. It also pairs well with dark chocolate, which picks up the cacao and ganache notes. With only 384 bottles made, it is best kept for slow tasting.

For a long serve, pour 3 cl over one large ice cubeLarge iceOne large block melts far more slowly than several small cubes, so the drink stays cold without watering down.Glossary in a short tumblerRocks glassA short, heavy glass (tumbler) for a spirit over a large ice cube or a short cocktail.Glossary, add 8 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. Add an orange twist and a couple of black grapes. The modest volume keeps the wine and cask character in front, the orange matches the bitter orange note, and the grapes echo the wine fruit.