![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.australian-macadamias.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/all-in-the-family-1024x693.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe first release <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Brookie’s Byron Dry Gin marks the first release from Cape Byron Distillery. Launched off the back of a successful crowd-funding campaign, the first batch of Brookie\u2019s was shipped to campaign supporters in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The gin is the result of careful thought and experimentation by Eddie and Jim. In total, 26 ingredients are used, with background flavour coming courtesy of juniper, coriander and citrus. 18 Australian rainforest botanicals, such as native raspberries and lilly pilly, many of which are foraged directly from the rainforest on the Brooks\u2019 property, impart a unique, delicate flavour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another native ingredient stars in Brookie’s Byron Dry Gin, and it’s the one that lines the orchards surrounding the distillery: macadamias! Not only are they used by the Cape Byron team to add flavour to the gin \u2013 a sweetness, described as a shortbread-like flavour \u2013 macadamias are also crucial to the end result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distilling with macadamias<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Using a 2,000-litre copper-pot still that was custom-made by hand in Tasmania, the Cape Byron team invented a unique two-step production process involving boiling and vapour distillation. The ingredients that bring the big flavours are placed in the body of the still, while the more delicate ingredients, including the native botanicals, are placed in muslin bags that hang higher up inside the still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Macadamias provide the final flourish in the distillation process with macadamia meal coating the top of the still. The oils in the macadamia meal act as the carrier for the other botanical flavours, holding them together and giving the gin its signature sweetness. Local Mt Warning spring water, with its own notable sweetness, brings the blend to bottling strength. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For the Cape Byron team, innovation stretches beyond the distilling process. The business is supporting Big Scrub environmental group, helping it to plant native trees, and every order of Brookie\u2019s first release was accompanied by free native ginger seeds, to raise awareness of rainforest regeneration and encourage people to plant the native rainforest species in their own backyards. As an added bonus, once the plant matures, the native ginger can be used to garnish a home made gin and tonic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cape Byron Distillery isn’t stopping with its first batch of gin. Distillery tours recently started, with the aim of educating the public about distilling, macadamia farming and rainforest regeneration. There are also plans to release a range of native Australian liqueurs, including a macadamia liqueur, designed for use in cocktails and desserts, as well as a timber aged whiskey, possibly using macadamia timber in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We’ll drink to that! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Eddie Brook says his gin is perfect in a classic gin and tonic garnished with a slice of finger lime and aniseed myrtle. Eddie also advises seeking out a premium tonic water. He recommends Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic water, available from good bottleshops.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A new gin direct from macadamia country Gin is definitely in. Once shunned as \u2018grandma\u2019s tipple\u2019, walk into any bar or bottleshop across the nation these days and you’ll find shelves brimming with premium versions of the spirit. This resurgence has prompted new players into the market, with a new generation of craft distillers emerging…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3618,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1099],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exploring-macadamia-country"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.australian-macadamias.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/cape-byron-distillery-5-1024x624.jpg\")
Innovation and the future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to enjoy Brookie’s Byron Dry Gin<\/h2>\n\n\n\n