Manly Spirits Co. Distillery has launched its first-ever limited summer release, Amber Spiced Gin.

The gin’s amber colour comes from an 18-hour infusion of Campos cascara coffee and vanilla.

“We tried distilling cascara at first, but found that infusing the cascara actually
brought out more of those sweeter raisin-like flavours from the cascara, which made
that candied-fruit characteristic a lot bolder – just how we like it,” said distiller Thiago
Lopes.

“Our gins are known for celebrating bold and unique flavours, and we wanted to do the same with this summer gin.”

Gin is experiencing huge growth in Australia. In the quarter to August 9, IRI reported $141million growth (MAT to 9/8/2020) for gin, with its market share up more than 22%.

Vanessa Wilton, co-founder of Manly Spirits, said the distillery’s aim was to create a spirit that encapsulated the festive break.

“Every year David [her husband and Co-founder of Manly Spirits] and I look forward to those days in-between Christmas and New Years where there’s no schedule or agenda – where you can forget about the worries of the year, enjoying the ocean, and sharing a drink with friends.

“This is what we wanted to capture in our Amber Spiced Gin, reminding ourselves to relax and let go of the crazy year we’ve found ourselves in, and appreciate the beautiful Australian beaches on our doorstep.”

Wilton’s family has a background in growing coffee up in the hinterlands of
Byron.

“We used a combination of Campos cascara, and my dad’s cascara from his farm in
Byron,” she explained. “I have fond memories of roaming the rows of coffee trees, so it was very special to be able to call on dad for this summery Christmas gin.”

Amber Spiced Gin brings a rich vanilla and fruity sweetness on nose, which extends
on the palate, with a smooth, balanced finish of candied fruit and a subtle hint of
citrus and cinnamon spice.

The distiller suggests pairing the gin with a premium Indian tonic and garnishing the drink with fresh orange to create a ‘Liquid Amber Negroni’.

Manly Spirits Amber Spiced Gin is currently available for pre-sale, ahead of its official release date on October 30. Due to the limited run of this special release, there will be a maximum of two bottles per person.