Melbourne’s The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins has teamed up with Brunswick Aces distillery to create one of the world’s first private label gin in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions, called The Maître D’.   

The Maître D’ gin pays tribute to the hotel’s famous Rainbow Room and its long line of Maître ‘Ds, including Albert Argenti who was renowned for hosting the who’s who of international show business in the 1950s.

Brunswick Aces co-founder and CEO Stephen Lawrence said the collaboration aims to bring people together at the hotel’s ground floor bar, The Alexander Bar.  

“Hospitality trailblazers like Albert Argenti exuded both innovation and elegance,” he said.

“The Maître d’ was the host that brought everyone together for a good time and great cocktails, so it is in honour of their hard work and dedication to establishing a mixologists legacy that we have partnered with The Savoy Hotel to create two unique gins.”   

The 0% Maître D’ Sapiir Gin and full strength 40% Maître D’ London Dry Gin both display a similar flavour profile, having been blended intensely with juniper, and a classic combination of citrus (lemon and orange), floral (coriander and green cardamom) and sweet (cassia bark and clove). This has resulted in a classic London dry style gin flavour which pays homage to a bygone era where hospitality and cocktails reigned supreme.    

Launching alongside The Maître D’ Gin is a series of acholic, and non-alcoholic cocktails designed to evoke the glamour of a bygone era such as the Classic Martini and Negroni. 

The Maître D’ gin is now pouring at The Savoy Hotel’s art-deco Alexander Bar, with 100ml bottles of Maître D’ available in the room’s minbar. Hotel guests are also able to purchase the 700ml bottle directly via reception or order to take home.