SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – We all know the taste of gin, especially when it is mixed with the highly flavoured tonic water, a slice of lime and cubes of ice.
For the lucky Riviera ladies who attended the recent Sydney International Boat Show, the art of gin-making came to life during a special event and luncheon at the superbly restored Kensington Street in Chippendale, close to the Cockle Bay centre of the show.
On the Friday of the show, the ladies stepped aboard a bus at Cockle Bay and were whisked to Kensington Street where the Archie Rose Distilling Company hosted a gin tutorial and tasting before guests moved to the new Olio Italian restaurant for a delicious three-course lunch with accompanying wines.
The afternoon began with a welcome and a glass of sparkling Italian prosecco wine before the gin tutorial.
Gin at its most basic is simply a neutral base spirit, usually made from grain and flavoured with botanicals, particularly the distinctive juniper. The ladies were shown how to take the art a step further by adding their own carefully-selected flavours to the base.
Donna Peach chose a path of subtlety, adding a little raspberry and citrus flavour.
“I love gin and tonic,” she explained. “So I didn’t want to be radical. One of the ladies really stood out with a combination of pepper and spice to create a ‘hot’ gin. It was outstanding!”
“While we mixed our gin, we took a note of the amounts and types of each flavour we were adding. Then we were given a sample bottle of our mix to take home – with the mixing notes. We can now order more from Archie Rose Distilling when we want. It will make a distinctive gift for friends.
Louise Killard was impressed by the scientific approach of the presentation.
“Beakers were lined up with eye droppers to add our mix,” she said. “It was great fun. I decided on a citrus and lime mix. I do enjoy gin and those flavours go so well. I called my mix Methyl Ethel – after the rock band but also for the base we worked from. It seemed like pure ethyl alcohol!”
Donna Peach said the lunch capped off a fantastic afternoon.
“We all gathered at Olio restaurant,” she said. “It was a wonderful lunch. I most enjoyed the opportunity to meet new friends. We are a like-minded group, with the bond of owning a lovely Riviera or Belize motor yacht.”
Riviera also hosted a glamorous red-carpet event on the marina on the Saturday evening of the Sydney International Boat Show. To find out more about this colourful and vibrant evening, please click here.
