Brookie’s Byron Dry Gin – Cape Byron Distillery

As some may already know, last year we traveled around the world visiting different distilleries. In total, we visited 10 distillers across 3 countries. Each distillery we visited was amazing, but there was one that stood out above the rest… and guess what?! You can now get it in the UK!

Cape Byron Distillery

Situated on the East coast of Australia, Cape Byron Distillery sits in a vast area of regenerated rainforest. It all started back in 1988 when the Brook family bought a run-down dairy farm in the hinterland of Byron Bay. Over the years they have planted over 35,000 subtropical rainforests trees, transforming the landscape into a haven for birds and wildlife.

In 2014, Jim McEwan ( often referred to as the Bruce Springsteen of the whisky industry) & Eddie Brook met for the first time.  When Jim learned of the family’s passion for regeneration & the native flavours abundant in their rainforest the idea for Cape Byron Distillery was born!

Brookie’s Byron Dry Gin

Brookie’s Byron Dry gin is the flagship product for Cape Byron Distillery and, well it’s pretty stunning. We would go as far as to say it’s one of the best gins we have tried in a long time. It contains 26 botanicals, 17 of which are Native to the Northern Rivers (Byron Bay). Traditional botanicals include juniper, coriander, cassia, angelica and orris root while the native ones include:

• Byron Sunrise Finger Limes
• Kumquat
• Blood lime
• Aniseed Myrtle
• Cinnamon Myrtle
• Macadamia nut
• Native River Mint
• Native Raspberry
• White aspen berry
• Native ginger

As mentioned above, some of the botanicals are picked directly from their own backyard rainforest! If you’re ever lucky enough to visit, part of the distillery tour includes a walk around the rainforest.  On the tour, you’ll get the chance to see, smell, taste and touch the native forest botanicals and if you’re lucky enough you might even spot a platypus in one of the lakes.

Brookie’s Gin – Tasting notes

Initially, you are greeted with citrus on the note. Followed by familiar notes of juniper and coriander. There is also a slight oily olive note thanks to the use of macadamia. That citrus forward nose carries on to the palate. There is a slight berry note (perhaps raspberry) mid-palate. This is followed by a bold spice from the native ginger and aniseed myrtle. The finish is full of peppery notes with a slight salinity that leaves you wanting more. That oil olive note is also carried over onto the palate. Its gives the gin a thick, luxurious mouthfeel.

As a gin and tonic, garnished with lime, and mint, it really shines but it also stands up quite well when drank neat over ice. It’s in no way harsh, meaning it can quite easily be enjoyed neat meaning you can enjoy the complex flavours that make up this gin. Cut with a little bit of water to open things up and the flavours really do come alive – the heat from the ginger, the spice from the pepper and the upfront citrus notes jump out across the palate.

Big thanks to the guys at Brookie’s Gin for hosting last year and giving a great tour of the distillery and rainforest! You can find out more about them on their website here, or get social with them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

If we have inspired you to grab a bottle of your own, you can get it from most online drinks retailers including Maser of Malt, The Whisky Exchange and Gin Kiosk.

TGB

Below are a few more images from our visit to the distillery.