Hurdle Creek Still Yardarm Distilled Gin

Yardarm is the New World gin of Hurdle Creek Still in Milawa, north-east Victoria. The distillery starts from a locally sourced barley spirit, distils it twice through an extended copper and glass column, then vapour-infusesVapour infusionBotanicals sit in a basket above the liquid, so only the alcohol vapour passes through them, for a lighter, fresher extraction.Glossary ten botanicals: juniper, coriander, cardamom, angelica, cassia bark, orange peel, lime leaves, lemon myrtle, pink peppercorns and hop flowers. It is bottled at 42% ABV, and Hurdle Creek describes it as smooth and rounded, with traditional botanicals, citrus and spicy pink pepper.

Citrus · Spicy · Herbal

JuniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary and coriander open with a familiar dry-gin note, then orange peel and lime leaves move the nose towards fresh citrus. Lemon myrtle gives that citrus a fragrant, leafy edge, and pink peppercorns add a light prickle. Cardamom and cassia bring warmth to the middle, while the hop flowers keep the finish lifted, with a faint floral bitterness. Vapour infusionInfusionFruit or plants are steeped in the spirit to release their flavour. Done after distillation, infusion often adds colour too, and the gin can no longer be called London Dry.Glossary suits this mix, as the delicate citrus and flowers stay distinct beside the firmer roots and spice. The palate starts round and turns drier as the juniper and pepper return.

The distillery lists a wide range of drinks: a G&T with a slice of lime, a Gin Rickey, a dry or dirty 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, a Ginsecco, 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, even a Caipirinha. A Gimlet brings the lime leaves forward, and 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 keeps the focus on juniper, cassia and pepper. In a Ginsecco, the hop flowers and citrus suit the Prosecco's fruit.

To build the G&T, pour 4 cl over clear ice in a balloon glass, add 10 cl of chilled Franklin & Sons Premium Indian Tonic Water and stir gently once. Garnish with a lime wheel and a hop flower, and place the same garnishes on a small plate beside the glass. The lime matches the citrus botanicals, the hop flower recalls the recipe, and the quinine gives the round palate a drier finish.