Sandymount Winter Gin

Winter was the first release in Sandymount's Distiller Series, in which the distillery's newer distillers lead the creation of their own seasonal gins on the Otago Peninsula. Its seven named botanicals are nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, rosemary, horopito and citrus, inspired by the herbal and spice remedies once used against winter chills and by festive Christmas flavours. It is bottled at 41% ABV and took silver at the New Zealand Spirits Awards 2024. It is sold in 700 ml bottles.

Citrus · Spicy · Herbal

Sandymount describes a rich palette of spicy warmth and citrus brightness, with a smooth, lingering finish. Cinnamon and nutmeg open warmly, while cardamom and star anise add a more perfumed, lightly aniseed note. Rosemary brings a green, resinousResinousAn aroma reminiscent of pine or fir resin. It is juniper's signature, due to compounds such as pinene.Glossary lift to the middle, and horopito, a native New Zealand shrub whose leaves have a peppery bite, adds a slow, tingling heat. Citrus brightens the move into the finish, where the spice stays present without tasting sweet. Served cold, the herbs and citrus come forward and the spice stays measured, so the gin works well beyond the coldest months.

Its spice suits a Hot Toddy made with gin, honey and lemon, as well as 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, where the orange and star anise meet the bitter aperitif. A gin Old Fashioned shows the baking spice at its fullest. Tasted neat, a few drops of water bring out the horopito's pepper.

For a cool-weather G&T, pour 45 ml of Winter Gin into 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 filled with ice and add 100 ml of The London Essence Company Mediterranean Seville Orange Tonic slowly down the side. Add an orange twistTwistA strip of peel twisted over the glass to release its oils, then dropped into the drink.Glossary and a cinnamon stick to the glass, and serve the same garnish on a small plate beside it. The bitter orange echoes the citrus and keeps the drink dry.