5 Mile Original Gin

At 43% ABV, 5 Mile Original Gin gives juniper the leading role in a recipe of eight botanicals. The Taupō distillery pairs it with coriander, angelica, cassia, walnut, lime peel, green peppercorn and green cardamom. Its own description puts the emphasis on juniper, warm spice and citrus, a straightforward outline that suits the gin's classic dry style.

Citrus · Spicy

The first impression is piney and clean, then lime brightens the palate while coriander and green peppercorn add a gentle warmth. Cassia and cardamom bring a rounder spice, with walnut giving the blend a deeper, drier note. The juniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary remains easy to recognise throughout; the other botanicals widen the flavour without obscuring its familiar gin character. The finish returns to citrus and spice rather than sweetness. Its measured strength keeps those details in balance, making this a versatile 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 for a simple 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 or a spirit-forward cocktail.

5 Mile Distilling makes its spirits in small batchesSmall batchProduction in small quantities per distillation run, often in a small still. The term has no legal definition.Glossary on the shore of Lake Taupō. The distillery's home is in the town itself, where the Original Gin sits alongside Berry, Forest and Navy bottlings. Here the recipe stays close to the core gin vocabulary, but the use of green peppercorn and cardamom gives the citrus-led profile a warmer edge than a simple juniper-and-lemon combination. The producer lists all eight botanicals and bottles this gin at 43% ABV in a 700 ml bottle.

For a long drink, pour 4.5 cl over ice and add 10 cl of Bö Dry Tonic. Its restrained bitterness keeps the lime clear and lets the juniper stay in front. Add a fresh lime twistTwistA strip of peel twisted over the glass to release its oils, then dropped into the drink.Glossary and an orange twist to the cocktail, then set matching garnishes beside the glass. A gentle stir brings the citrus oils through the first sip; the dry tonic leaves the green peppercorn and cardamom perceptible on the finish.