Little Lon Dutchy Thomas Dutch Style Gin

Little Lon Distilling Co. named this gin after Arthur "Dutchy" Thomas, a swaggering figure the distillery calls Little Lon's Hollandic hooligan, from the days when Little Lonsdale Street was Melbourne's most notorious quarter. Dutchy Thomas is the distillery's take on the Dutch style, geneverGeneverThe Dutch and Belgian ancestor of gin, based on malt wine. "Jonge" is more neutral, "oude" more malty.GlossarySee Genever gins, the malty spirit that came before London Dry ginLondon DryA style, not a place of origin: every flavour comes from distilling natural botanicals. After distillation only water and a trace of sugar may be added, with no flavouring or colouring.GlossarySee London Dry gins. It is made on a malted barley base and bottled at 42% ABV, and Little Lon describes it as a meeting point between whisky and gin.

Citrus · Spicy

That malt base is what sets it apart. The nose has rich, malty undertones with hints of chocolate, caramel and liquorice, and the palate is creamy and buttery, much rounder than a 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. Citrus and juniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary then lift the middle, with a touch of ginger, and the finish is long and layered. The balance is clear: grain richness first, then a drier, citrus-and-juniper close. The two layers give the gin a weight that suits slow drinking as much as mixing.

Little Lon suggests it neat or on the rocks, in a MartinezMartinezThe presumed ancestor of the Martini: gin (often Old Tom), sweet vermouth, maraschino and bitters, stirred over ice and served straight up.Glossary, or in place of the spirit in a whisky cocktail. The Martinez is a fitting choice, as the nineteenth-century drink was originally made with sweeter Old TomOld TomAn 18th-century English style, lightly sweetened or rounder, halfway between genever and London Dry. It is back in favour for classic cocktails.GlossarySee Old Tom gins or genever-style gins rather than today's dry styles. An Old Fashioned built on Dutchy Thomas shows the caramel and liquorice side. Served neat, a few drops of water bring out the chocolate.

For a long drink, pour 4 cl over clear ice in a copa glass, add 10 cl of Thomas Henry Tonic Water and stir gently once. Place orange peel and a few juniper berries in the glass, then arrange matching pieces on a small side plate beside it. The tonic's bitterness lightens the malt, the orange brightens the citrus, and the juniper berries keep the gin side in view.