Going to a Gin Tasting? Read These Tips!

If you love craft gin or want to introduce a friend to your new favourite spirit, then going gin tasting in Melbourne is a great way to spend an afternoon! These tips from our gin distillery in Melbourne will help you look like a pro-taster and help you truly appreciate the quality and flavours of this popular drink.



Clean Your Palate

If you want to get an accurate perception of the flavours and complexity of different gins, you need a fresh, clean palate. Start by avoiding any strongly flavoured foods that tend to linger – garlic, chili, chewing gum, stuff like that. A good trick often used by the pros is to drink some weak, cold black coffee before your gin tasting in Melbourne.

Don’t Go Nose-Blind


Smell is a very important part of the craft gin experience and plays a key role in tasting sessions. When you’re sampling a gin, first try the gin neat at room temperature, as this shows the gin at it’s very best. Always sip it gently and don’t over-sniff the gin, as this will block your sense of smell. Take some time between samples to give your nose a break, or sniff some coffee beans to energise your sense of smell.

Taste with Technique

When you taste the craft gin, take a small sip and swirl it gently around your mouth. See if you can detect the notes that you did when smelling the drink. Let it rest for a moment on your tongue to see if you can pick up any new flavours of different fruits, herbs and botanicals. Once you swallow the craft gin, pause and see what notes linger.

If your palate feels dry after tasting the gin, it may have strong root botanicals like angelica root. Sourness can come from lemon and citrus fruits. Good terms to try classifying the tasting experience include aromatic, buttery, perfumed, peppery, nutty, mellow, savoury, sweet, spicy and warming.

Our gin distillery in Melbourne recommends that you do a second tasting with the gin slightly diluted with water. This is especially helpful if you are new to gin and find the alcohol notes a bit overpowering.

Combine with a Mix

To get to know what the craft gin would taste like in everyday situations, try it with a couple of different mixes. Our gin distillery in Melbourne recommends first trying it with a high quality Indian tonic water at a ratio of one part gin to two parts tonic, and then trying it at the same ratio with a complementary flavoured tonic that brings out the botanicals to see what you prefer.

Visit Our Gin Distillery in Melbourne for an Expert-Led Tasting Session!

If you are looking for a great place to start gin tasting in Melbourne, visit our distillery. Our craft gins are locally made with fresh, native ingredients that are bursting in flavour, and our team will guide you through tasting each gin, giving you plenty of tips on the tasting process, garnishes and much more. Contact us today to book your gin tasting in Melbourne.

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