Big River Syrah Gin

Syrah grapes from the 2023 vintage at Wallaroo Wines, near Hall in the Canberra region, are partially fermented, then fortified with a gin base to make Big River Syrah Gin. Stopping the fermentation early keeps much of the grapes' natural sugar, and the result is bottled at 38.4% ABV. The gin base was designed for this fruit, with fresh and dried Eureka lemon, pepper and spice.

Citrus · Spicy · Fruity

The cool-climate fruit brings a plummy, gently spicy character. Fresh and dried lemon add fragrance and cut through the grape's natural sweetness, while pepper and spice give firmness and juniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary keeps the palate anchored in gin. The balance is fruit-forward but not syrupy, with a bright citrus edge at the finish. Syrah is the French name for the Shiraz grape, and its use here reflects the cooler Canberra climate, which gives a more peppery, less jammy style of the variety. The grape's natural sweetness gives the gin a fuller texture than a 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.

The gin won gold at the 2023 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards, along with the trophy for Best Wine/Grape Gin. Like a fortified wine, it works as an aperitif over ice, and it suits a 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 with a lighter 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 or a gin spritz with sparkling wine. A small glass also pairs well with cheese. Served chilled, it shows the plum and pepper most clearly.

For a long drink, fill a highballHighballA long drink served in a tall, straight glass with plenty of ice: a spirit topped with soda or tonic. The word also names the glass.Glossary with clear iceClear iceIce without air bubbles, made by slow, directional freezing. Denser, it melts more slowly and dilutes less.Glossary, add 4 cl of Syrah Gin and 10 cl of Thomas Henry Bitter Lemon, and stir once. Add a broad lemon twist. The bittersweet mixer and fresh peel follow the lemon of the base and leave the Syrah fruit in view.