Nosferatu Blood Orange Gin

In a Bowen Hills cellar in Brisbane, Nosferatu Distillery makes its Blood Orange Gin in The Schreck, a coffin-shaped pot stillPot stillA traditional still, often copper, that distils in batches. It keeps more texture and character than a column.Glossary named, like the gin, after the cult silent film Nosferatu. It is bottled at 40.4% ABV. Its red hue is distinctive. The distillery says it was inspired by a love of arthouse cinema.

Citrus · Spicy · Herbal

Its botanicals include Albanian juniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary, blood orange peel, fresh navel oranges, dried orange peel, roasted fenugreek, coriander seed, cardamom, wormwood and angelica root. Three kinds of orange give the citrus depth: the fresh navels bring juiciness, the blood orange peel a darker, red-fruited bitterness, and the dried peel a warmer, marmalade note. Roasted fenugreek adds a savoury, almost maple-like richness, wormwood a dry bitterness, and coriander and cardamom a warm spice. Nosferatu describes the gin as delicate yet packing a punch, with rich and savoury qualities beneath the citrus. Wormwood and angelica keep the finish dry and slightly bitter.

That savoury side makes it a gin for food. The distillery recommends it with bold dishes such as duck or roast lamb, and serves it as the main-course gin of its four-course Ginner Party. Its orange and bitterness also suit a NegroniNegroniAn Italian cocktail of equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and red bitter (Campari), served over ice with orange peel. Born in Florence in 1919.Glossary, where it meets the bitter aperitif naturally, and a MartinezMartinezThe presumed ancestor of the Martini: gin (often Old Tom), sweet vermouth, maraschino and bitters, stirred over ice and served straight up.Glossary. Its red colour also makes it a striking base for a long drink.

For a gin and tonic, pour 4 cl over ice and top with 10 cl of chilled Fentimans Pink Grapefruit Tonic Water. Add a blood orange wheel and a pinch of coriander seeds. The pink grapefruit tonic sharpens the citrus, and the coriander seeds bring the spice of the recipe to the nose.