Little Lon Barrel Aged Dutchy Thomas

Dutchy Thomas, the Dutch-style geneverGeneverThe Dutch and Belgian ancestor of gin, based on malt wine. "Jonge" is more neutral, "oude" more malty.GlossarySee Genever gins gin that Little Lon Distilling Co. makes on a malted barley base, rests here in 100-litre ex-bourbon barrels. The Melbourne distillery tells the story with a nod to local history, picturing the gin locked behind the bars of cell 13 in the Old Melbourne Gaol, and bottles it at 49% ABV. Its own page gives two different ageing times, 13 months in one place and 100 days over the cooler autumn and winter months in another, so the exact duration is best left open.

Citrus · Woody

The distillery describes a rich, malty smoothness with chocolate-orange, creamy caramel, oak and whisky tones, and a seamless, rounded, full-mouth finish. The malted base already gives the original gin a weight close to whisky; the bourbon wood adds vanilla, caramel and a gentle oak spice. JuniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary and the citrus of the original, with its ruby grapefruit and orange, stay underneath, which keeps it a gin rather than a whisky. At 49%, the spirit has a dense texture and carries its flavours a long way.

Little Lon recommends it neat or on the rocks, and in three classic stirred or shaken drinks: the MartinezMartinezThe presumed ancestor of the Martini: gin (often Old Tom), sweet vermouth, maraschino and bitters, stirred over ice and served straight up.Glossary, the Vieux Carré and the Penicillin. The Vieux Carré and the Penicillin are normally whisky or cognac drinks, which says a lot about this gin's weight, while the Martinez, an ancestor of the 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, suits its malt and caramel. A single large cube is enough to follow the malt and oak as the glass warms.

For a long drink, pour 2.5 cl over clear iceClear iceIce without air bubbles, made by slow, directional freezing. Denser, it melts more slowly and dilutes less.Glossary in a copa 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 8 cl of Franklin & Sons Rosemary & Black Olive Tonic Water and stir gently once. Place orange peel and a cinnamon stick in the glass, then arrange matching pieces on a small side plate beside it. The small measure respects the strength, the savoury tonic balances the caramel, and the orange and cinnamon echo the chocolate-orange and cask spice.