Discovering the Perfect Balance: Our Journey with Smooth Pool Gin

A Visit from a Gin Expert

We were incredibly lucky to have a gin expert with a finely tuned palate visit us at our Streaky Bay distillery recently. He loved the aroma, taste, body, and mouthfeel of our Smooth Pool Gin. However, he noted that it didn't linger long on the palate. This comment struck a chord with us. We had read the judges' report from our recent Silver Medal win, where the lack of length on the palate was also mentioned.

Over time, we think we may have deviated a little from our original recipe, which was created with the help of another genius distiller. Adapting the recipe to our still might have also played a role in this change.

Meeting Scott: A New Perspective

The expert introduced us to Scott, an experienced distiller with years of fine-tuning recipes for spirits. He is also a wine expert. We headed over to Adelaide to meet him and discuss our gin.

Most of our distilling has been done in Cyrel, our copper 300-litre still. However, in preparation for meeting Scott, we distilled all of our botanicals individually. We primarily used our smaller still, which has an interchangeable alembic dome and column. Some botanicals were distilled by macerating them, using reflux to achieve a cleaner version of the distillate. For the more delicate botanicals, we used vapour distillation with the alembic dome. This method brings out fresh, bright flavours but does not contribute much to palate length.

Scott meticulously went through our recipes. He calculated the percentages of each botanical and then rebuilt the gin using the proportionate distillates. This process was a fantastic learning experience for us. We tasted the unique attributes each botanical brought to the mix, much like unpicking a soup.

A New Approach to Spirit Development

This approach will guide us in all our new spirit development. While it doesn't replicate exactly how the spirit will emerge from a one-shot distillation in Cyrel, it provides a great starting point. As we continue to work with the botanicals, we learn what to expect.

Even with a fixed recipe, seasonal variations in the botanicals can still bring surprises. Just like a bolognese made with ripe summer tomatoes differs from one made with winter greenhouse tomatoes, the qualities of the botanicals vary seasonally.

What I appreciated about the single distillates was the ability to enhance the gin. This method allows us to correct for seasonal differences, making our product more consistent.

Experiments Ahead: Finding the Best Seasonal Expressions

Now, we are heading home to Streaky to start some experiments. We are on a mission to discover the best seasonal expression of each botanical. It will be fascinating to see if the plump, grainy winter saltbush expresses itself differently from the flowering season or the lean summer leaf. I am also eager to learn more about the Wirangu seasons and when the Wirangu people harvested the saltbush. We aim to tap into that 65,000 years of knowledge regarding the plants we use as botanicals.

The Future of Smooth Pool Gin

So, what about the Smooth Pool Gin? We still love it, and it receives great feedback and reviews. However, we are about to pare back one of its ingredients. This ingredient has an incredible ability to overshadow the other aromas and flavours. Without it, the other botanicals can truly shine. Sorry, cucumber; we won't be seeing so much of you going forward.

We cannot overstate how much we enjoyed the day with Scott and how much we learned. We filled pages and pages with notes, new ideas, and methods. As always, we left with renewed enthusiasm!

In our ongoing journey, we aim to create a gin that not only delights the palate but also tells a story of our dedication and craft. Stay tuned for more updates as we explore the depths of flavour and the art of distillation!