Alcoholic or non, grape or grain, crystal clear or colourful, mostly with a clear local twist; take inspiration from the creators of these distinctive signature beverages – best served in situ.

On the menu this Christmas at Longitude 131 ~ A Festive Sunset ‘Sloe Gin’ Cocktail

What is sloe gin I hear you ask? Gin is originally transparent and sloe gin is red. The main ingredient of sloe gin is the sloe berry and gin is derived from the juniper berry. Gin is less sweet than sloe gin. Gin is made from traditional distillation processes while sloe gin is made from mixing sugar and sloe berries and steeping in gin… Husk distillery’s  Ink Sloe & Berry Gin plays on this traditional English recipe with an Aussie twist incorporating the native rosella flower for colour and crisp tart flavour.

Ingredients:

• 45ml Ink Sloe & Berry Gin
• 30ml Lemon Juice
• 30ml Peach Liquor 
• 20ml Davidson Plum Syrup
• A dash of Orange Bitters

Method: Fill glass with crushed ice. Add the liquor, then the juice, followed by the syrup. Add each ingredient slowly, finishing with the Gin top up with more ice if needed. Garnish with a slice of dehydrated citrus and a sprig of fresh thyme.

Capella Lodge’s Festive Negroni Lusso

Ingredients:

• Lord Howe Island exclusive Wild Lemon & Hibiscus Gin
• Campari
• Cinzano Rosso Vermouth
• Peychaud’s Bitters
• Cardamom and Orange Praline Capella Lodge Negroni dust

Negroni Lusso tasting note: The citrus forward Lord Howe Island Gin with floral undertones complements the Campari perfectly. Stirred over ice and partnered with the ageless flavours of Cinzano’s Rosso Vermouth, with a few drops of Peychaud’s bitters adds a moody edge of dark berry, raisin, dried fruit, and spice to this classic cocktail.

Seasonal Selection – Cape Lodge Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2018.

Made with fruit from Cape Lodge Estate’s 22-year-old vineyard, the 2018 SB is the ultimate holiday drink for BBQs and warm summer evenings. 2018 is celebrated as one of Margaret River’s great vintages for both white and red wine, and this Sauvignon is packed with generous tropical fruit and a little oak spice, making it the perfect partner to summer seafood.

Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley – Wolgan Martini

1832 Wolgan Gin cocktails are curated exclusively for Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley by leading Australian gin expert Mikey Enright .

Ingredients:

• 60ml 1832 Wolgan Gin
• 10ml Dry Vermouth
• 3 drops of lime bitters

Method: Pour ingredients into a mixing glass. Add ice and stir 8 times before straining into chilled martini glass. Garnish with lemon zest twisted on a silver pick.

Arkaba, Flinder Ranges – Quandong Martini

• Small batch Thirty Six Short Adelaide gin
• Santalum Grove Quandong Syrup
• Lime
• Cranberry juice
• Soda
• Splash of orange

Tasting note: Garnished with macerated Quandong, orange zest, green olive and heart-stirring views of Arkaba’s outback mountain ranges.

Mt Mulligan Lodge – Sugar & Spice Cocktail

• 1 tblsp Bush Lemon, Bay Leaf & Cinnamon Sugar Syrup
• 60ml Wolf Lane Tropical Gin
• Tonic Water
• Lemon slice, Cinnamon Quill & Bay Leaf (from syrup) to garnish

Method: Place 1 tblsp sugar syrup to a glass, add crushed ice and lemon slice. Add 60ml of Wolf Lane Tropical Gin and top with Tonic water. Garnish with a cinnamon quill and bay leaf.

Lake House – Peach Collins

• 30ml Gin – we love 78 Degrees Small Batch Gin at the moment.
• 20ml Lemon Juice
• 15ml Peach Liqueur
• Soda and lemon slices

Method: Add all ingredients apart from soda to a shaker. Shake and double strain into a tall glass, add a dash of soda and top with crushed ice and garnish with lemon slices.

For further information on Luxury Lodges of Australia gourmet experiences, visit.