Ironbark 313 Dry Gin

Aroma: Pleasant, light, and balanced, dominated by lemon citrus. Palate: Very lemony, bright, and sweet, but with a more substantial character than the aroma suggests. Finish: Medium length, with licorice appearing in the aftertaste. This is an enjoyable lighter style of gin that is good neat. It makes a fine G&T but is easily overwhelmed. It's refined and gentle with balanced botanicals. The citrus flavor comes from the use of lemon myrtle leaves. Ironbark is a new distillery focusing on gin, vodka, and corn-based moonshine. Established by a husband and wife team in 2014, their spirits are developed by one of the founders, who has decades of experience in industrial distillation. Whisky is currently being produced, with initial releases expected in a year or two. The 313 dry gin is quite a classic London gin and features only 5 botanicals, which is key to its restrained and elegant lightness. This contrasts with the current trend in Australia, where complex recipes with many native botanicals are fashionable, leading to heavy, almost creamy, full-bodied spirits. Ironbark was named Australian Gin Distillery of the year in 2015, just one year after starting production, and has since received numerous awards at local and international competitions, including a silver and gold at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Score: 83/100 (3.5 stars)