Cauldron Coastal Navy Strength Gin

Australian saltbush, macadamia and vanilla bean join juniper in Cauldron Coastal 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. The distillery bottles it at 57% ABV as part of its 525 collection, named after the 525 metres at which Cauldron stands on Tamborine Mountain in Queensland. The four named ingredients each have a clear role: juniper for the gin backbone, saltbush for the coastal reference, macadamia for richness and vanilla for length.

Herbal · Navy Strength · Vanilla

Juniper comes first on the nose, with a green, savoury edge from the saltbush and a crisp apple note that freshens the opening before the richer elements arrive.

On the palate, macadamia gives a rounded, nutty depth, and the full Navy Strength makes itself felt from the first sip, carrying the botanicals with real force. The coastal side comes through as savoury depth rather than as a salty taste. Vanilla softens the middle and stays well into the finish, which Cauldron describes as robust and lingering.

At 57%, the gin keeps its character through ice and mixer, so a smaller measure goes a long way. Tasted neat in a small pour, it shows the concentration of the nut and vanilla; a few drops of water then bring out the saltbush and the apple. In a stirred cocktail it adds weight and warmth without needing a larger dose of gin, and 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 a small amount of dry 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 leaves the macadamia and vanilla in clear view.

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 Franklin & Sons Premium Indian Tonic Water and stir once. A slice of green apple picks up the crisp fruit note, and a saltbush leaf repeats the savoury botanical. The tonic tempers the strength, while the macadamia and vanilla remain easy to follow to the last sip.