Gin gongs are just the tonic
A MANDARIN and long pepper gin and a citrus gin crafted with locally-grown botanicals have positioned Far North spirits on the world stage.
Two boutique distilleries, Distil on the Hill and Narrow Tracks Distilling, were both awarded Double Gold status at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition.
Distil on the Hill owner Nerida Bedwell, who operates the Kuranda gin distillery with husband Christian, said she was “humbled” to receive a double gold in the international contest in the distillery’s first year of operation.
The couple’s Mandarin Gin is a London Dry Style gin which is an infusion of juniper, mandarin and exotic long pepper, Ms Bedwell said.
“We were so excited to receive a double gold and to know a whole panel of prestigious judges from across the globe sat around and collectively loved our gin,” she said.
Doug Thorpe and Bec Zammit’s Narrow Tracks Dog Days gin also scooped a double gold rating from the judges, with their Dry Gin also being award a silver medal.
Mr Thorpe described Dog Days as “a citrus-forward gin using traditional and locally grown botanicals to create a unique flavour profile”.
“To be awarded a double gold in our first year of operation is amazing and fuels our passion to create the best products we can,” he said.
Narrow Tracks is a small batch distillery at Stratford which opened in 2021.
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is the largest competition of its kind.