Little Biddy Gin Amber

Fresh New Zealand oranges and lemons, balanced by the subtle warmth of ginger, give Little Biddy Amber its bright, invigorating twist on a traditional gin. Reefton Distilling Co. makes it on the West Coast of the South Island, at 40% ABV. In 2025 it took double gold at the SIP Awards and gold at both The Super Spirits Awards and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The ginger stays subtle, never sharp.

Citrus · Spicy

Orange leads with a round, sweet-peel note, and lemon cuts through with a sharper brightness. Ginger, the warming rhizome, follows with a mild, peppery heat that gives the middle more grip and carries the citrus into the finish. Juniper anchors the blend, so the fruit sits within a gin rather than replacing it. The distillery promises a crisp, smooth finish, and the order is simple: fresh citrus first, warming spice after, then a clean, dry close. That directness makes it a versatile gin for classic cocktails as well as for new creations.

The Little Biddy range is named after a Reefton legend, Little Biddy, a gin-toting gold prospector barely four feet tall, who fossicked in the same West Coast rainforest where the distillery now gathers native botanicals. The distillery suggests Amber as a classic G&T with a premium Indian tonicIndian tonicThe classic tonic: sparkling water, bitter quinine and sugar. The name recalls colonial India, where quinine warded off malaria.Glossary, or simply with soda, so that the serve tells the whole story of its botanicals. Its orange and ginger also suit a Gin Buck with ginger ale. Neat over ice, the ginger warmth is easiest to notice.

For the long drink, pour 4 cl of Little Biddy Gin Amber into an ice-filled 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. Top with 10 cl of Fentimans Valencian Orange Tonic Water and stir gently. Add one orange twistTwistA strip of peel twisted over the glass to release its oils, then dropped into the drink.Glossary and a thin slice of fresh ginger, which echo the two leading notes of the gin.