What better way to celebrate World Gin Day with a spirit created right here on the Far South Coast!
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Saturday, June 13, is "a global celebration of all things gin" that has been doing the rounds since 2009.
Making this year even more special however is that Bega's own North of Eden Gin is releasing its latest drop - the "Navy-strength" Admiral.
The story goes that the British Royal Navy stored their alcohol in barrels near their gunpowder, so needed a spirit strong enough so that even if it spilt the gunpowder would still light. Bring on 114 proof gin! (That's 57 per cent alcohol by volume in today's terms).
The Admiral - "a sinful gin" - has been more than a year in the making for North of Eden distillers Gavin Hughes and Karen Touchie.
However, it's worth the wait.
"It took me a while to perfect it, but we're very happy with it now," Mr Hughes told the BDN on Friday.
"It has been an ongoing project for over a year to get it balanced and to get it to a quality where we're happy to send it out to our customers."
The Admiral is a "true London dry gin" very juniper heavy in the tradition of Navy-strength offerings.
However as a lovely added touch from the Far South Coast distillery, it also includes the bush tucker kurrajong seed.
"It's really good and balanced - you wouldn't realise it's 57 per cent," Mr Hughes said.
The Admiral will be released in a special limited first batch of 261 bottles to coincide with World Gin Day, Saturday, June 13 (for those super keen to get their hands on a bottle, it will become available from midnight tonight, Friday, June 12).
And how is is best enjoyed? Mr Hughes let us in on the secret.
"It's a great sipping gin and stands up well in any type of cocktail - but for me I think this gin makes the best negroni I've ever tasted."
North of Eden gins are available online at www.northofeden.com.au.
