Brogan's Way Hearts Afire Gin

Warm spice drives Brogan's Way Hearts Afire Gin, made in Richmond and bottled at 42% ABV. Sweet orange peel, strawberry gum and maceratedMacerationBotanicals soak in alcohol, from a few hours to several days, before distillation to release their aromas.Glossary lilli pilli form its fruit-leaning base; aniseed myrtle, cloves, nutmeg and cassia bring the warmth, followed by green cardamom and black pepper. Roasted wattleseed gives the finish a nutty, coffee-like character.

Citrus · Spicy · Herbal

Orange and native fruit give the nose an inviting first impression, but the spices quickly add depth. Aniseed myrtle has a fragrant, almost liquorice-like edge, and clove, nutmeg and cassiaCassiaThe bark of a Chinese cinnamon tree, coarser and hotter than Ceylon cinnamon. It brings a warm, slightly sweet spice.Glossary build warmth without turning the gin into a dessert. Green cardamom and black pepper sharpen the second half of the palate, and the wattleseed carries a long, nutty finish. The distillery calls it a balanced sweet-spice gin: the sweetness comes from the orange and the native fruit rather than from added sugar. Juniper holds everything together and keeps the finish clearly gin.

Brogan's Way recommends it in a spicy NegroniNegroniAn Italian cocktail of equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and red bitter (Campari), served over ice with orange peel. Born in Florence in 1919.Glossary or a Red Snapper, the gin version of a Bloody Mary, and in a strong gin and tonic with an orange twistTwistA strip of peel twisted over the glass to release its oils, then dropped into the drink.Glossary. In a Negroni, the bitter aperitif meets the warm spices; in a Red Snapper, the black pepper and clove suit the tomato and seasoning. The recipe already has many layers, so a sweet mixer or a crowded garnish would only blur them. Neat over a large cube, the orange and the wattleseed are easiest to follow.

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 Thomas Henry Aromatic Tonic Water and stir once. Add an orange twist and a single lilli pilli berry. The aromatic tonic gives the spice a structured, savoury length, and the orange brings a fresh citrus aroma that keeps the warmth from feeling dense.