Hurdle Creek Still Powder Monkey Gin

Powder Monkey is Hurdle Creek Still's navy-strengthNavy StrengthGin bottled at 57% ABV or more. Royal Navy lore holds that at this strength, gunpowder soaked in gin would still ignite.GlossarySee Navy Strength gins gin, bottled at 58% ABV in Milawa, north-east Victoria. Its base is a spirit of triticale, malt and barley, distilled twice through an extended copper and glass column, which gives it a dry character with a distinct rye note. Six botanicals are then vapour-infusedVapour infusionBotanicals sit in a basket above the liquid, so only the alcohol vapour passes through them, for a lighter, fresher extraction.Glossary: juniper from Bobbie's Patch in north-east Victoria, eucalyptus leaves from a Blakely's red gum outside the stillhouse, pink peppercorns, cinnamon myrtle, lemon myrtle and aniseed myrtle.

Dry · Spicy · Herbal · Navy Strength

JuniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary sets the tone, firm and resinousResinousAn aroma reminiscent of pine or fir resin. It is juniper's signature, due to compounds such as pinene.Glossary, with a dry, grainy note beneath it from the cereal base. Eucalyptus and lemon myrtleLemon myrtleThe leaf of an Australian tree with an intense lemon scent, purer than zest and without acidity.Glossary follow with a cool, leafy citrus freshness, and aniseed myrtle adds a soft hint of anise. Pink peppercorns and cinnamon myrtle warm the finish with a gentle prickle. At this strength, everything arrives concentrated, and a little dilutionDilutionThe water added by melting ice. In the right amount it opens the aromas and softens the alcohol; too much flattens the drink.Glossary helps reveal the sequence: resin and grain, then lemony leaves, then pepper and spice. This is a separate recipe from the distillery's Yardarm, built on native botanicals rather than classic citrus and spice.

Hurdle Creek suggests it in a classic gin and tonic with lemon, with bitter lemon, as a gin squash or in a sour. The sour is a natural fit, as citrus and sugar soften the strength while the eucalyptus and myrtles stay clear. Bitter lemon brings out the lemon myrtle in a longer, more bitter drink.

For the G&T, pour 4 cl over clear iceClear iceIce without air bubbles, made by slow, directional freezing. Denser, it melts more slowly and dilutes less.Glossary in a balloon glass, add 10 cl of chilled Thomas Henry Dry Tonic and stir gently once. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a eucalyptus leaf, and place the same garnishes on a small plate beside the glass. The dry tonic adds no sugar, the lemon sharpens the myrtles, and the eucalyptus leaf points to the red gum in the recipe.