Mary St Sydney Dry Gin

A generous hit of fresh juniper opens Mary St Sydney 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, followed by light floral and sweet citrus notes. The Sydney distillery Otter Craft Distilling sets its strength at 40% ABV. The name refers to Mary Street in St Peters, the distillery's original home, and the gin represents the range's dry style.

Dry · Spicy · Floral

The aroma keeps the juniper prominent rather than hiding it behind perfume. On the palate, the distiller's tasting notes pick out fragrant cinnamon and earthy orris: the cinnamon gives a measured warmth, and the orris an earthy depth that links the citrus and floral notes. The citrus is sweet rather than sharp, and the flowers light rather than dominant. The finish is dry and clean, with juniper and a touch of spice. Bold, sweet mixers would flatten these finer details, whereas a clean tonic or a dry MartiniDry MartiniGin and a little dry vermouth, stirred over ice and served in a well-chilled stemmed glass, with an olive or a twist.Glossary leaves the spice and root notes easy to follow. Orris rootOrris rootIris rhizome dried for years, then ground. Powdery and violet-like, it mainly works as a fixative that binds and lengthens the other aromas.Glossary, the dried rhizome of the iris, is prized for its violet-like scent and for the way it fixes other aromas.

Otter Craft presents Mary St as a versatile base for a gin and tonic, a Martini and other cocktails. The balance of juniper, citrus and spice suits 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 or a GimletGimletGin with lime cordial or sweetened lime juice, served well chilled without ice. It is said to come from the Royal Navy, as a guard against scurvy.Glossary as well, and the gin can be tasted neat or over ice, where the cinnamon and orris become more apparent as it opens. Its clean juniper line also makes it a good choice for a Gin Fizz.

For a gin and tonic, fill a copaCopa 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 with ice, add 5 cl of gin and 10 cl of Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water, and stir gently once. Add a lemon wheel and a small rosemary sprig. The lemon brightens the citrus, and a light hand with the rosemary keeps the juniper in front.