Little Biddy Gin Zest

Bursting with sweet lemon zest, Little Biddy Zest is a limited-edition gin from Reefton Distilling Co., on New Zealand's West Coast. It combines lemon and orange with tarata, the native lemonwood that gives the whole Little Biddy range its bright citrus palate, and is bottled at 40% ABV. The distillery made it for long summer afternoons and warm evenings with friends. As a limited edition, it will not stay on the shelves for long.

Citrus · Limited Edition · Herbal

Lemon peel leads the nose, bright and fragrant rather than sugary. Orange, the sweet citrus, rounds the sharper edge, while tarata adds a fleeting green, woody and floral brightness that lingers. Juniper provides a dry line beneath these lighter elements.

On the palate, the citrus feels brisk and clean, and the finish is crisp, with the lemon zest lasting longer than the sweeter orange. It is the simplest and most direct gin of the range, built on three botanicals and a juniper base. Tarata, a small native tree whose crushed leaves smell of lemon, links the citrus to the West Coast forest.

The Little Biddy name comes from a Reefton legend, a gold prospector four feet tall who carried her gin into the same West Coast rainforest where the distillery now forages. Reefton suggests Zest with your favourite mixer or in a classic cocktail. A Tom CollinsTom CollinsA long drink of gin, lemon juice, sugar and soda water, served over ice in a tall glass.Glossary, a GimletGimletGin with lime cordial or sweetened lime juice, served well chilled without ice. It is said to come from the Royal Navy, as a guard against scurvy.Glossary or a White Lady all play up the lemon. Over ice with soda water and a lemon wheel, it makes an easy summer 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.

For the long drink, fill 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 with cold ice and add 4 cl of Little Biddy Gin Zest. Pour in 10 cl of East Imperial Yuzu Tonic and lift gently with a bar spoon. Finish with one lemon twistTwistA strip of peel twisted over the glass to release its oils, then dropped into the drink.Glossary and one orange twist; the yuzu keeps the citrus theme vivid and adds a slightly rounder note.