This distillery tells tall tales with collaborative spirits, which share heartfelt stories from across the nation’s capital and beyond. Photo: Underground Spirits.
Everyone loves a good cocktail, and every good cocktail starts with quality spirits.
Canberra-based distillery Underground Spirits is known for its premium drop, but perhaps less obvious are the inspirations behind the team’s most popular bottles.
CEO Claudia Roughley believes every beautifully crafted gin starts with a story. She delights in teasing out the capital’s hidden tales using themed botanicals, retelling them through flavour, aroma, colour and texture.
“If you’re a lover of local gin, you probably have a go-to Underground favourite,” she says.
“But what you may not know is our collaborative gins are all inspired by a Canberra story, whether it be a huge seasonal celebration, long-time community group or 100-year-old art house.”
Having recently marked its centenary, the historic Gorman House – AKA Gorman Arts Centre – worked with Claudia and her team to create a limited edition Hawthorn gin in honour of its century-old Hawthorn trees, Sofia and Manolo.
The gin also features other botanicals from the area, including Atlas Cedar Bark and Callistemon (bottlebrush) leaf.
“These magnificent red-berried trees have defined Gorman House since the very beginning,” Claudia says.
“This historic complex is a living testament to Canberra’s cultural evolution and using berries from Sofia and Manolo, we’ve created a gin that encapsulates 100 years of art, passion and creativity.”
The gin also features a striking label designed by Gorman artist Paul Summerfield, which captures Sofia in full bloom. The original print was auctioned off at the house’s birthday event, where guests’ tastebuds were tickled by storyteller cocktails.
One cocktail was named “Flower Thief” after a former resident who often strolled through the surrounding streets picking flowers for her room.
“Evidently, she picked so many it was noticed by neighbours, who contacted the Art House to dob her in!” Claudia says.
“The Flower Thief cocktail has a gentle flavour filled with sweet florals. Our Hawthorn gin is added to a base of red grapefruit juice, with elderflower liqueur for extra-soft sweetness and rosella syrup to deepen the colour.”
Other collaborative gins by Underground include the Pink Tennis Let’s Get Loud(ish) Summer Gin and Lady Floriade Gin.
Let’s Get Loud(ish) embodies the vibrant spirit of Australia’s longest continuously running LGBTQIA+ sports club, Pink Tennis Canberra.
Described as having “all the excitement of a powerful serve and the energy of a post-match gathering”, this spirit is bright and herby with sweet notes of Tennis Ball Banksia and Super Dooper Boronia, finishing off with crisp Pink Grapefruit.
Lady Floriade is an ode to Australia’s biggest celebration of spring and one of Canberra’s biggest events of the year.
The heart of this gin is born from the sweetness of pineapple, paired with delicate rose and lavender. Raisin and sultana, reminiscent of regency-era fruit cake, balance the citrus of lemonade and earthy English breakfast tea.
But how are these liquid creations brought together into a final product? Claudia says the secret lies in good old-fashioned experience.
“Our distiller, Stewart Dobson, has been in the industry for many years and has a very refined palate,” she says.
“Gin is complex but should be indulgent rather than overpowering. And, of course, every ingredient you put into an infusion should be of high quality if you want a premium result.”
Given it’s the season for celebration, the most important thing is to take the time to enjoy every sip, and perhaps spare a thought for the brilliant stories behind your favourite flavours while you do.
Celebrate local stories with premium quality, award-winning gin and vodka from Underground Spirits.
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