Lawrenny Highlands Gin (40%)

Still Magic

Episode 23

Welcome to the Still Magic Podcast, your one-click audio stop for all things gin be it gin making, gin production, gin distilling, gin manufacturing, gin commercialising, gin tasting, gin drinking, gin steeping and everything else in between.

Today my co-contributors @nisholay and @antipodeanharpdie are taking a trip to Tasmania, often referred to as Australia’s’ very own Apple Isle

https://www.lawrenny.com/our-spirits/highlands-gin/

The heart of Tasmania is the central highlands, a region noted for its scenery and dramatic environment.

With over 300 lakes connected by running rivers, the region captures the purity and excitement of Tasmania. The subject of today's gin is remarkable reflecting a strong sense of place.

Even more remarkable though, is the master distiller’s journey, resembling the title of a book written by JRR Tolkien's fictional character Bilbo Baggins entitled “There and back again”

Joe Dinsmoor may be in his 20s, but he is already one of Australia's most experienced distillers leading the development of multiple global award-winning gins vodkas and whiskies.

As a teenager, Joe started working at Lark Distillery, doing “all of those important things” like filling bottles and labelling them by hand. These are the jobs that distillers grow out of, and hopefully, never have to do ever again.

Picture your 16-year-old self. How cool would it be to work in a distillery? Moreover, how super cool would it be to work at Lark Distillery as an apprentice to Bill Lark – widely regaled as Australia’s godfather of distilling

In 2014 Joe took hold of an opportunity to leave his native Tasmania for Sydney, to take up the head distiller role at Archie Rose, and become their first employee. He went on to develop a range of distilled spirits, capturing numerous global awards. He also worked closely with bar people restauranteurs, and other distillers.

I first met Joe in 2015 at an Australian gin week event held in Surry Hills, a hip suburb in the Sydney CBD. His energy and enthusiasm there to see. Not long after that, Joe returned to Tasmania swapping life in the Big Smoke for the idyllic rural setting that is Lawrenny Estate

Joe’s ethos is simple.

“Distilling is an amazing platform in which to tell a story. The product itself has the power to create more stories as it reaches people. I want the products I make, to be a reflection not only of the environment that it is made, but the people who are part of making it. It should invite feeling or an experience and make you treat it like something special, not just another liquid in a glass”.

With a preamble like that let us take a look at the gin itself.

The intent was to create a sense of “crisp Highlands Air”

The secret sauce is conifer needles from the unique blue cypress

Joe's reasoning is sound.

“When you use too much Juniper, the gin will get too dry and kind of stick in the back of your palate”

This is the classic juniper forward London Dry gin effect, but now put to the sword.

By using conifer needles the gin delivers a fresh pine aroma with the classic dryness you would get from Juniper. The gin also has fresh mint, pink grapefruit, black pepper, and chamomile.

Grapefruit orange and buchu linger over the palate. The sweet earthiness of ginger, cubeb pepper, grains of paradise, come to the fore.

Another example where one is best to let the gin do the talking

Be bold. Enjoy yourself. Let’s create a new gin narrative.

Still Magic paperback, digital and audio copies available from your favourite online stores

https://www.amazon.com/Still-Magic-distillers-guide-beginners-ebook/dp/B07QZ4VFRV/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=still+magic&qid=1596545333&sr=8-1

Host: Marcel Thompson @stillmagicway

Guest contributors: @nisholay & @antipodeanharpie

Editor: @alexiepigot, [e-mail]. https://alexiepigot.com