Hickson House Classic Dry Gin

In Sydney, Hickson House keeps its Classic 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 close to the London dryLondon 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 model and gives it one Australian twist: old man saltbush. The other four botanicals are the familiar ones, juniper, coriander seed, angelica root and orris root, and the gin is bottled at 40% ABV. It is the simplest gin in the Hickson House range and a clear introduction to the distillery's approach.

Dry · Spicy · Herbal

JuniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary leads the nose with a clean, pine-like note, and coriander seed broadens it with a warm spice that has a hint of citrus. Angelica and orris give the palate its dry, slightly earthy depth and hold the aromas together. Saltbush shows itself late: a restrained savoury, almost saline impression that appears towards the finish rather than at the start. Dry and aromatic, the finish turns faintly mineral, with enough juniper to keep the five botanicals in balance. There is no sweetness to speak of and no crowd of flavours, which keeps each element easy to pick out. Tasted neat, the saltbush is easiest to find just after swallowing.

That dry outline makes the gin especially at home in a 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, where the quiet saltiness sits beside the vermouthVermouthAn aromatised, fortified wine flavoured with herbs and barks; its name comes from the German Wermut, wormwood. Dry vermouth goes into a Martini, sweet red into a Negroni.Glossary without being covered. An olive or a lemon twistTwistA strip of peel twisted over the glass to release its oils, then dropped into the drink.Glossary both suit it, the first underlining the savoury side, the second the coriander. Hickson House sells the gin in several sizes, including 200 ml and 700 ml, so it can be tried before committing to a full bottle.

For a gin and tonic, pour 4 cl over clear ice in a balloon glass, add 10 cl of chilled Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water and stir once. A grapefruit twist and an old man saltbush leaf finish the drink. Grapefruit's bitterness meets the dry juniper, and the saltbush leaf brings the savoury note of the recipe to the nose.