Make Your Own Gin at Giniversity

WHEN VISITING MARGARET RIVER ONE IS ALMOST CERTAIN TO ATTEND A WINE TASTING, BUT FOR A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE DON’T JUST GO TO A GIN TASTING – MAKE THE GIN YOURSELF!

Set among the native Australian bush is Margaret River Distilling Company, home to Giniversity Gin and Australia’s only Giniversity Experience. Here, not only is gin made and available to sample at their cellar door, but you can make your own.

CRAFT YOUR OWN GIN

Take a Giniversity Distillation or

Blending Class when you visit the distillery and craft a gin that is entirely unique to your palate. In each class, you will be taken through the highlights and lowlights of gin’s rich history, try the diverse range of Giniversity gins, be guided through structured experimentation with botanicals and be encouraged to let your creativity show. In the two-hour Blending Class, you’ll be presented with an extensive range of botanical distillates, including lemon myrtle, elderflower, angelica and cardamom.

For inspiration, your blending instructor will take you through various flavour profiles and botanical combinations used by some of the world’s largest gin companies, and take you step by step through the process of crafting their Botanical Gin – a gin made by blending 15 individual botanicals, with an emphasis on native Australian flavours.

FLAVOUR PROFILE

Before creating your own spirit, taste and smell a variety of individual distillates and select those that you’d like to include in your flavour profile. Blend them together and take home a 500ml bottle of your own bespoke gin.

For those with a keen interest in the intricacies of distilling, a four-hour Distillation Class is available. Take this class for hands on experience using a still. Like the Blending Class, you’ll learn of gin through the ages, various flavour profiles and details about Giniversity’s own range, ample tastings included. What sets this apart from the Blending Class is working with raw botanicals.

LUNCH INCLUDED

Touch and smell the botanicals before arriving at a combination of your choice. Gently crush each botanical before infusing them with your juniper spirit.

Visit the still room and distil your botanical mix to result in a full 500ml bottle of your bespoke gin. For the Distillation Class, lunch at Margaret River Distilling Company and a garnished Giniversity Gin and Tonic is included.

To avoid the need to book transport, stay at Riverglen Chalets, otherwise known as the Giniversity Campus. The 14 4-star and self-contained chalets share a property with Margaret River Distilling Co and are surrounded by the native bushland of Australia’s South West for a secluded experience within walking distance of town.

MORE THAN GIN

Wander back the next day to sample the awardwinning Limeburners and Tiger Snake whiskies, produced by Margaret River Distilling Company’s brother distillery, Great Southern Distilling Company.

Based in Albany, Great Southern Distilling Company is the home of Limeburners Whisky. Established in 2004, Great Southern Distilling Co is one of Australia’s leading distilleries, named Icons of World Whisky Australian Distiller of the Year for 2019.

WHISKY AT WORK

When you visit the beautiful coastal town that is, stop by Great Southern Distilling Co and take a tasting and tour. Visit on a working day to see the distillers at work and be welcomed by the intense smell of malt and hot water, whisky in its early stages.

Have a peak at the barrels and finish by tasting a range of award-winning whiskies, whether it be a Sherry or Port Cask from their core range, or a top-shelf and limited Director’s Cut. www.distillery.com.au www.riverglenchalets.com.au