Iconic Aussie Spirits: What Makes Them So Beloved?
Have you ever been to Australia if you have not experienced the rich flavours of their alcohol? Australians are known for their famous spirits. It’s a land known for its rich history and distillation and unique choice of spirits. Over time, there has been our global rise of Australian spirits and the variety of flavours they have contributed to the spirit industry.
Australians love to take their celebrations seriously. Whether it is a departing ceremony, a graduation, a birthday or even a reunion, most Australians prefer to bond and connect over beautiful alcohol. Whether you are a gin lover, a whiskey enthusiast or a brandy aficionado, they’ve got it all! These beautiful people choose to take their alcohol neat or mixed in a cocktail.
Regardless of age, societal norms, economy, gender, or state, alcohol is greatly adored by all! You can find bottles of lavishing spirits included in gift boxes and hampers. At Hampers Galore, we respect the interests and preferences of all Australian citizens giving them a beautiful opportunity to give their loved ones hampers with alcohol. Whether it is a Wine Hamper, A Whiskey Hamper, A Spirit Hamper or even a Beer Hamper, we’ve got it all under one roof!
Our gift experts at Hampers Galore have curated a beautiful guide for you to understand the variation of Australian spirits. We have taken the liberty to dive into the unique flavours, the craftsmanship, the appeal, the culture and the ethical practices within the Australian spirit industry. We have highlighted briefly each of these points while providing you with Spirit Hamper suggestions from our collection. Read along to find out more!
1. Unique Ingredients and Flavours:
Native Botanicals:
Australia being a nation filled with lush rows of greenery often focuses on their naturally available botanical flavours. In most spirits, you’d find a combination or a still (distinct) essence of the below-mentioned flavour. These ingredients will leave your spirits with a distinct aroma and taste for the perfect finish of earthy flavours. For all spirit enthusiasts, this can be an unparalleled flavour to cherish. Whether it's gin, vodka, whisky, or rum, you can embrace the depth and complexity with each sip!
- Lemon myrtle: Used mostly gin for citrusy notes
- Tasmanian Pepperberry: Used in gin, vodka, and whiskey for its spices
- Wattle seed: Used in rum and whisky for nutty and chocolat-ey notes
- Orris Root: Used in distilled spirits for its strong aroma
- Angelica: Used mostly in gin as a flavouring agent
- Finger Limes: Used in gin for the citrus, tangy, zesty flavour!
Natural Resources:
The Australian climate, the weather, and the national resources play a massive role in the Australian spirit industry. The changes in temperature can contribute to the quality of the local ingredients such as grapes, sugar canes and grains. Furthermore, the purity of Australian waters, the acidity and the alkaline nature of each drop can contribute towards the texture and flavour of your spirit. Whether it’s your rum or whisky, Australia’s natural resources can contribute to your spirit distillation!
2. Craftsmanship and Innovation:
Small-Batch Distillation:
Most Australians rely on their botanical flavours to create the perfect blend of small-batch distilled spirits. These spirits are focused merely on flavours and the quality of the craftsmanship. Whether it’s the Tasmanian Malt whiskey or the Country to Coast by Fleurieu Distillery, each bottle is unique and special! Other common spirits can be Native Gin, Tasmanian Gin, Bourbon, Rye malt, Cane spirits and so on!
Pioneering Distillers:
However, on the other side of the Australian Spirit Industry, you can find some well-raised distilleries that focus on using traditional methods to create innovative blends of whiskey rum and bourbon. They take their traditional knowledge to create a beautiful blend representing the roots of Australia while keeping in touch with the modern world. Here are some of the famous Australian Distilleries you must know:
- McHenry Distillery: Tasmania
- Hunter Distillery: New South Wales
- The Grove Distillery & Brewery: Western Australia
- Four Pillars Gin Distillery: Victoria
- Bundaberg Rum Distillery: Queensland
- 23rd Street Distillery: South Australia
3. Iconic Spirits and Their Appeal:
Bundaberg Rum:
This Queensland-born rum is known for its rich, molasses flavour and iconic bear logo. On the nose, you would experience a rich and strong aroma blend of Molasses, Vanilla, Mocha, Woody, Salty and Medicinal essence. On the palate, the Bundaberg Rum is flushed with flavours of Caramel, Woody, Tar, Iodine and Mineral Herbs. And for the grand finish, you will experience a fusion of Basil, Fennel, Malt, Herbal, and Peppery Eucalyptus.
Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin:
Four Pillars has gained global recognition for its bold flavours, combining native botanicals with traditional gin elements. On the palate, you can embrace a fresh smoothness of classic piney notes, subtle citrus, sweetness and spice which is offered by cardamom, cassia bark and star anise. You can end this beautiful dry gin with a persistent yet subtle tang of zesty orange!
Starward Whisky:
Starward is accepted as a global whisky, blending old-world whisky-making techniques with a distinctly Australian twist, including maturation in wine barrels. On the nose, the aromatic bubble is filled with bright tropical fruits, mixed red berries, vanilla and cereal. From the very first sip, your palate will sense a great balance of red fruit and vanilla with a nice cereal and toasty backbone. And of course, for the grand finale, you can indulge in a delicately long, delicious, well-rounded palate!
The Untold Story Vodka:
The Untold Story Vodka carries a strong Australian twist as it is curated using Bass Strait waters. This is distilled using Barossa Valley’s finest grapes and a subtle hint of native Lemon Myrtle. Experience a subtle creaminess on your palate making it perfect for mixing and cocktails. What a botanical finish!!
23rd Street Distillery Gin:
The Signature Gin from the 23rd Street Distillery puts off a strong taste of juniper, followed by mandarin in the middle and fresh lime as the very last note. You can also sense the soft but complex combinations of spices, which also contribute to the aroma. On the nose, you can pick up juniper, mandarin, coriander and spices! Would make an ideal cocktail blend or a perfect G&T additive! Do not forget your garnishes with this one!
You can also try out the beautiful flavour combinations of 23rd Street Distillery Gins such as Raspberry and Finger Lime, Tropical Essence, Juniper, Red Citrus, and Mulberry. Why not try them all out?
4. Cultural Significance:
Part of Aussie Celebrations:
Australia is known for their rich history of celebrations. They take their celebrations up a notch regardless of whether it is a national holiday or a personal gathering. Aussie spirits are a staple at all kinds of Australian celebrations. Whether it is a barbecue or a toast to a presidential election, the integral role in the country’s culture of toasting and storytelling is quite prominently seen in Australia. So if you are hoping to gift an Aussie a bottle of their favourite alcohol, choose wisely!
Support for Local Industry:
Most Australians take pride in supporting the local distilleries to further solidify their existing status in the spirit industry. They often contribute by supplying these distilleries with grown botanical support such as grains or grapes or simply by assisting with the entire process!
5. Sustainability and Ethical Practices:
Environmentally Conscious Distilleries:
Australian distillers take their sustainability commitment quite seriously the same way they consider their spirits. Transferring to renewable energy sources and improvising proper waste reduction methods can be some of such modern techniques followed within Australian Distilleries!
Sourcing Local:
Most Australian distilleries are focused on strong, locally sourced ingredients supporting the Australian agricultural values that rely on eco-conscious production. This means that ingredients such as barley, wheat, sugar cane and grapes, including other flavour-enhancing ingredients such as spices are sourced from local farms.
Our Toast to You!
And that’s what makes Australia a great choice for spirits! Australia is famous for its celebrations and for their grand gestures. Aussies consider their local ingredients and their small batch distilleries to be quite important. They value innovative craftsmanship, cultural ties and sustainability to make their Australian spirits valuable.
If you are hoping to embrace the beautiful flavours of Australian spirits, regardless of it being gin, bourbon, whiskey, tequila, vodka, or rum, take the time to savour the rich diverse flavours that connect the subtle flavours that put off a strong one!
If you are hoping to gift your loved ones with a delightful alcohol hamper, you can check out our Spirit Hamper range to explore the rich diversity of Australian spirits. Whether they are gin aficionados or whisky connoisseurs our Spirit Hampers will not disappoint you. You can also visit Hampers Galore to check out the specific range of Alcohol Hampers such as Wine Hampers, Whiskey Hampers, Beer Hampers and more.
Cheers to a beautiful celebration of Aussie Spirits!