Five Eleven Neon Noir Gin

Pink peppercorns and lemon myrtle lead Five Eleven Neon Noir Gin, with juniper underneath. It is bottled at 45% ABV in South Australia. Neon Noir began as a seasonal release and became a permanent part of the range, and Five Eleven describes it as citrus-led, peppery and herbal, with a dry finish.

Citrus · Dry · Spicy · Herbal

Lemon myrtleLemon myrtleThe leaf of an Australian tree with an intense lemon scent, purer than zest and without acidity.Glossary opens the nose with a bright, lemony note and a green, leafy edge typical of the Australian plant. Pink peppercorns follow with a fragrant, gently warm spice, closer to perfume than to heat. Juniper is present but plays a smaller part than in Five Eleven Signature Gin, which gives Neon Noir its brighter feel without losing the dry spine of a gin.

On the palate, citrus and pepper stay distinct from each other, and the finish is dry rather than sweet, with a peppery tingle that lasts. Pink pepper also has a light, fruity sweetness that rounds off the citrus.

At 45%, Neon Noir has more strength than the Signature bottling, which helps it hold its shape in long drinks and sours. Five Eleven recommends a dry tonic with lemon or pink peppercorn, and suggests a Tom CollinsTom CollinsA long drink of gin, lemon juice, sugar and soda water, served over ice in a tall glass.Glossary or a Gin Sour as cocktails. Both work for the same reason: fresh lemon juice reinforces the lemon myrtle, and the pepper keeps the drink from tasting simply sour. Neat, a small pour shows how the citrus comes first and the spice builds behind it. It also makes a sharp, peppery 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.

For a gin and tonic, 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 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, add 10 cl of chilled Q Drinks Q Indian Tonic WaterIndian tonicThe classic tonic: sparkling water, bitter quinine and sugar. The name recalls colonial India, where quinine warded off malaria.Glossary and stir once. Finish with a lemon wheel and a few pink peppercorns. Q Indian Tonic is dry and lightly sweetened, so the citrus and pepper keep their edge, and a handful of peppercorns is enough to scent the glass without making the drink hot.