Hey there, fellow gin enthusiasts! As the temps start to drop and the leaves turn the nice golden hue, you might be looking to jazz up your G&T game with some seasonal flair. We’ve got some awesome suggestions for you to experiment with. Whether you’re into traditional dry gin such as our award-winning Bright Night Wild Tasmanian gin or enjoy a more fruity or zesty one such as our Murtis-berry powered Pink Gin, there’s a garnish out there to suit your mood and taste. So, here are some of my top picks for autumn gin garnishes and how to use them.
Apple slices
Apples are a quintessential autumn fruit, and they can add a crisp and slightly sweet flavour to your gin drinks. They also look beautiful in a glass, especially if you use different varieties of apples with different colours. You can either slice them thinly and add them to your drink, or use a peeler to create long ribbons of apple peel that curl around your ice cubes. Try pairing apple slices with our Wild Tasmanian Gin and a splash of elderflower tonic for a refreshing and floral drink.
Cinnamon sticks
Cinnamon is a warm and aromatic spice that can add some coziness and complexity to your gin drinks. It’s especially good with gins that have spicy or citrusy botanicals, such as cardamom, ginger, orange or lemon. All our Bright Night gins have cassia bark (cinnamon) as their key botanical, so you can use cinnamon on any Bright Night gin drink or cocktail. You can either use a whole cinnamon stick as a stirrer for your drink, or break it into smaller pieces and add them to your glass. Cinnamon sticks can also be reused for multiple drinks, as they release their flavour slowly. Try pairing cinnamon sticks with our Pink gin or our Barrel Aged Gin.
Rosemary sprigs
Rosemary is a herbaceous garnish that can add a savoury and earthy note to your gin drinks. It’s also very easy to find and use in Australia, as you just need to pluck a few sprigs from your garden (or your neighbours 🙂 ) or supermarket and give them a gentle slap to release their oils. Rosemary works well with gins that have herbal or floral botanicals, such as lavender, elderberry thyme, sage or chamomile. You can either add a whole sprig to your drink, or chop it finely and sprinkle it on top of your ice cubes. Try pairing rosemary sprigs with our Wild Tasmanian Gin and a Mediterranean tonic for a relaxing and soothing drink.
Cloves
Cloves have an aromatic, sweet and peppery flavor that is perfect for autumn gin cocktails. You only need a few cloves to make a big impact, as they have an intense spicy flavor. Skewer three or four cloves on a toothpick and drop them in your gin cocktail or press into a citrus twist or peel for an easy garnish. Cloves pair well in gin drinks with cranberry, apple or pear and also stand up nicely to sweeter drinks with maple or honey. All our Bright Night gins have cloves as a botanical, so you can use cloves on any Bright Night gin drink or cocktail to enhance the spicy pops. For a clove-infused gin cocktail, combine 2 ounces of gin, 3 ounces of cloudy apple juice, and 1/2 ounce of maple syrup over ice and garnish with a clove-skewered lemon twist.
Charred citrus
Other classic gin garnishes like lime, orange or lemon peels also work well in autumn gin cocktails. Char a lemon peel over an open flame before dropping it in your gin cocktail for a smoky, caramelized flavor. Rosemary sprigs add an aromatic, piney gin garnish for woodsy gin and tonics. Maple syrup, honey, pumpkin puree or chai spices are all natural pairings for gin in fall cocktails.
Get creative with your gin garnishes, infusions and flavor combinations and craft a cocktail perfect for the autumn season. Enjoy!
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Bright Night Wild Tasmanian Gin
Capture multi award winning Wild Tasmania in your glass. Recently awarded Asia Pacific spirit of the year 2022.