This year’s Australia Day cocktail, Great Southern Land couldn’t be any easier to prepare. It doesn’t need to be shaken, it doesn’t need to be stirred while counting to 10 and strained, and it doesn’t require any prep. All you need are the ingredients and crushed ice.
Great Southern Land Australia Day Cocktail – Photo © Cocktails & Bars
This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small compensation without any additional cost to you if you make a purchase using the links.
The name of the cocktail is more than a nod to a great Australian song from the 1980s by a great Australian rock band, Icehouse. The cocktail is based on the Mint Julep and combines Australian rye whisky from Melbourne with an Australian native botanical, river mint, growing in our very own cocktail and edible garden.
For presentation, we used mini ice cubes which are made using these ice cube trays. They’re well worth having in the home bar as the ice doesn’t dilute as quickly as crushed ice.
Ideal to sip on hot summer nights, river mint lends a flavour of spearmint and pepper which complement the spiciness of the rye whiskey.
Great Southern Land Australia Day Cocktail
Ingredients
- 60ml Australian rye whiskey (we used The Gospel Straight Rye Whiskey)
- 1 teaspoon castor sugar
- a handful of river mint leaves
- splash of water
- crushed ice
Glassware: short glass or stemless wine glass
Garnish: river mint sprig
Method
Place mint leaves in the bottom of a short glass or stemless glass, add sugar on top and muddle gently. Add crushed ice three quarters of the way up then pour the rye whiskey on. Top with more ice. Stir well to combine. Add more crushed ice to the top and garnish with a river mint sprig.
