Karu Affinity Gin

Orange and pomegranate grown in the Hawkesbury give Karu Affinity Gin its sense of place. Karu pairs these local fruits with Macedonian juniper, Daintree vanilla and Australian almond in a gin of 44% ABV. The producer describes a naturally semi-sweet palate, warmth from the spices and a smooth finish.

Citrus · Floral · Fruity · Vanilla

The first impression is bright and fragrant. Orange brings familiar zest and peel, while pomegranate adds a deeper, slightly tart red fruit. Vanilla from the Daintree, in tropical Queensland, softens the transition, and almond gives the middle of the palate a fuller, gently nutty feel. These notes stay balanced against the resinousResinousAn aroma reminiscent of pine or fir resin. It is juniper's signature, due to compounds such as pinene.Glossary edge of the juniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary, so the gin never becomes a liqueur. The fruit is immediately inviting, but the finish keeps enough spice and juniper to hold its shape in a mixed drink.

Affinity scored 96 points from the IWSC in 2024, after Double Gold at the SIP Awards in 2022 and gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2020. It can be sipped neat, to follow the shift from citrus to warmer notes, or used where a standard 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 might feel too spare. Karu recommends it for a gin and tonic with an orange wheel, and its fruit also 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 Clover ClubClover ClubGin, lemon, raspberry syrup and egg white, shaken until it foams.Glossary. Neat over ice, the vanilla comes forward.

For a gin and tonic, fill a balloon 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 with clear ice, add 5 cl of gin and 10 cl of chilled Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic Water, and stir once, gently. Add an orange wheel and a few pomegranate seeds. The garnish repeats the two Hawkesbury fruits, and the measured tonic leaves room for the vanilla and almond.