Juno Jean Gin

Jean Gin honours Dr Jean Sandel, a surgeon and pioneer of cardiovascular surgery and Māori health in Taranaki, and an important voice encouraging women to pursue their academic studies. Barely five feet tall, she stood tall in the community as head of the surgical department at Taranaki Base Hospital. Juno bottles the gin in her name at 44% ABV in New Plymouth, and it also appears in The Trailblazers, a special-edition four-pack.

Citrus · Floral

The flavour takes its cue from summer on the cricket green, with a hint of red clover and the richness of oranges. Orange brings a full, rounded citrus note, closer to ripe fruit than to sharp peel. Red clover, a meadow flower with a light, honeyed and slightly grassy scent, adds a soft floral touch. JuniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary gives the dry base beneath them, so the orange never tastes like a cordialCordialA concentrated syrup of fruit (often lime) and sugar, made to be topped up.Glossary. On the finish, clean and gently floral, the orange lingers. The clover keeps the citrus soft and summery rather than sharp.

The cricket reference comes from Jean's own life: although always on call, she would sometimes slip away to watch a match at Pukekura Park, where the commentator had clear instructions to hang a white towel on the scoreboard if she was urgently needed back at the hospital. Its orange 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 or a Tom CollinsTom CollinsA long drink of gin, lemon juice, sugar and soda water, served over ice in a tall glass.Glossary on a warm afternoon. Neat over ice, the orange and clover are easy to tell apart. A slice of orange over ice is all it needs on a summer afternoon.

For the G&T, pour 45 ml of Jean Gin over firm ice and add 100 ml of Fentimans Valencian Orange Tonic Water. Place a fresh orange wheel and a rosemary sprig in the glass, and serve the same garnishes beside it. The orange tonic extends the gin's citrus, and rosemary adds a savoury herbal note.