Forgive Me for I Have Ginned! Celebrate World Gin Day with These Five Venues

While British sailors received a daily ration of rum, it was the naval officers who got a daily shot of gin…lucky devils!

A global celebration of all things gin, World Gin Day on Monday, June 10 is the time to try this wonderful juniper-laced spirit in all its glory!

Created in 2009 by Neil Houston as a bright idea to bring his friends together to drink gin in Birmingham, the day has spread around the world as a good excuse to imbibe a G&T.

Gin was born around 1689 and the earliest food pairing was in 1731 when gingerbread became a common accompaniment to your tipple and is still traditional in some parts of England.

Here are five venues to either enjoy a gin on Monday or order your bottle online:

Hidden in the back alleys of Botany, find boutique micro-distillery Banks & Solander on Salisbury Street. This family-owned business is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Marty and Ed and built on a passion for making fine spirits, hand crafting artisanal refreshments from the best ingredients for you to enjoy.

 

After years of hard work on evenings and at the weekend, Banks & Solander now has its own place housing two stills to make gin, limoncello and a coffee liqueur; you can also order online for drops such as the award-winning signature gin with pepperberry, lemon myrtle, strawberry gum and wattleseed.

Dive in, splash liberally and share it around – that’s Great Ocean Road Gin! Produced on Great Ocean Road in Aireys Inlet, this craft gin transverses native forests, drives around cliff edges, wades in the rockpools and hugs ocean shores, with a nostalgic nod to one of our favourite places in Australia.

 

What started as a family sea change has resulted in drops like the original Guvvos Contemporary Dry Gin, inspired by native botanicals with a modern twist on a classic dry style. Drop by the tasting room and sample these amazing gins for yourself, making sure to take home your favourite tipple, or order online.

The first distillery on the Bellarine Peninsula, locals and visitors alike drop by The Whiskery/Bellarine Distillery on Portarlington Road in Drysdale for a tipple and treat to eat. Growing a range of botanicals on the property to make unique gins, along with nicely maturing whisky, this is the place to satisfy the urge for a wee dram or shot; while The Whiskery cellar door appeases hunger with a slice of pizza or cheese platter.

 

Expect to sample drops like Teddy & the Fox gin, with an aromatic blend of six botanicals - juniper, coriander, orange, lemon myrtle, orris root and star anise – garnished with a slice of orange for the ultimate drink. 

Expect refreshments on repeat with views to the horizon that just won’t end at Ardo Rooftop on Sir Leslie Thiess Drive in Townsville. Located in the Ardo Hotel, the spirit of Ardo lives where the sky is close enough to touch - a place where the rhythm of the sun rules and the rules don’t matter.

 

Watch the sky turn pink with a Pearl Summer gin cocktail and graze on plates like fried calamari, lemon, capers and smoked paprika aioli, or sticky lamb ribs with ras el hanout spices and pomegranate molasses.

Find classic cocktails unique to the Brisbane hospitality scene at Lang’s Lounge on Brunswick Street in Fortitude Valley. This boutique bar promises an unforgettable experience in moody surrounds with comfy chairs and couches for chilling out, while posters of classic movies adorn the walls.

 

Using local quality artisan distilleries wherever possible along with fresh produce to create juices, garnishes and syrups, expect to sip concoctions like ‘It’s Pronounced Fronkensteen’ – London dry gin, triple sec, dry vermouth, strawberries, mint, lemon juice, sugar syrup and Absinthe.