By Rebecca Harris
A micro-distillery located in the NSW Central Coast has won the highest award ever given to an Australian-made gin, taking out a Silver medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) last week.
The award was given to the Moore’s Vintage Dry Gin, which is a vapour-infused gin produced by distiller Philip Moore at the St Fiacre Distillery in Erina.
It is the first Silver medal ever given to an Australian gin at the competition. This year, two other gins – Hendrick’s and Plymouth – received a Silver medal and no gin was awarded Gold.
Moore’s Vintage Dry Gin is hand-crafted and made using seven different botanicals including four native Australian flavours – wild lime skin, cinnamon myrtle leaf, macadamia nut and Illawarra plum fruit.
“The Australian herbs give a liveliness, complexity and sophistication to the gin, said Moore. “I use European juniper berries and angelica root, so it’s a fusion of the best of Europe with the best of Australia. Well that’s my goal, anyway – and this award is wonderful recognition of that.”
Moore plans to launch the gin in August at the St Fiacre Distillery, which also produces a range of flavoured liqueurs.