On June 9 World Gin Day, renowned winemaker and Settlers Spirits distiller Rowland Short is releasing Settlers Shiraz Gin, Australia’s first Shiraz Gin made from wine.
Creating a gin based on a grape spirit is nothing new for Rowland Short. The accomplished winemaker at Maximus Wines also turned distiller has crafted a range of artisan Settlers Spirits using grapes as a base including Settlers G & Tea Breakfast Gin and Settlers Oak Aged Gin previously featured in our Top 10 Australian Gins.
The concept for Settlers Shiraz Gin is entrenched in sustainability. “The idea was to use the award-winning Shiraz grapes grown on our property, turn them in to wine in our own winery and then distil the wine in our own distillery, which is also on the property,” Short explains.
In crafting Settlers Shiraz Gin, he combined his winemaking and distilling skills to create a unique juniper-forward gin which tastes like gin but with the palate, weight and finish of Shiraz.
He used whole Shiraz grapes and made them in to wine, extracting colour, flavour and tannins from the skins by pumping the ferment over twice a day for 7 days. The liquid was then triple distilled to provide the alcohol base for Settlers Shiraz Gin.
Another point of difference is that each of the botanicals used in Settlers Gin is vapour distilled separately in a copper pot still to produce a range of concentrated essences. These are then blended with the base spirit to create the unique flavour of the gin. The final step is to bring down the alcohol to 38% by cutting it with water.
In the glass, Settlers Shiraz Gin has a deep and vibrant purple hue with aromas of juniper intermingled with red berries and an echo of spice. The palate is savoury, rich and medium-bodied, with overtones of juniper and ripe red berries with peppery spice. It finishes long due to the soft and drying tannins which invite another sip.
In short, gin meets Shiraz, juniper meets ripe red berry notes with a hint of spice and a delicious savoury note coupled with soft tannins that linger. It makes a fine sipping gin, enjoyed neat or over a large ice cube.
Settlers Shiraz Gin goes equally well in a gin and tonic. Short recommends using CAPI Tonic or Fever-Tree Mediterranean. “I find that the addition of tonic brightens the drink and enhances the mouth-feel.”
Settlers Shiraz Gin is available through the independent liquor stores at a RRP $85.00.
On World Gin Day, Saturday 9 June 2018, the Chambers Cellars Group and Porters in Balgowlah will be holding a tasting of the newly-released gin.
In partnership with Settlers Spirits.
