Winter is a time for hearty and comforting food and drinks. Flavours tend to be rich, earthy,
and warming, with spices like cinnamon and star anise along with citrus, inspiring culinary
creativity. Owen O’Reilly, master mixologist at SIP Exclusive shares his inspiration for the
perfect winter gin cocktails using one of his favourite gins, Whitley Neill Gin in four delicious
variants. Their range boasts incredibly unique gins, which I’ve gone and done you the courtesy of sharing recipes for your next dinner party (available via their website here)! Here, I’ve listed two out of the four gins’ recipes to pique your interest.
Whitley Neill Original Gin
This gin is slightly softer and much smoother than traditional gins, with rich notes of juniper and citrus, pot-pourri and exotic spices. The finish is a long one, with a subtle fade of herbs, cocoa and candied lemon peels, while the nose is both citrus-sweet and peppery, with a distinctive floral aroma.
This gin works well with:
- Indian tonic and garnished with a pine sprig to evoke the scents of winter forests and
add a hint of evergreen freshness to the cocktail. - Warm rooibos tea (I’d like to use Carmién Zesty Lemon or Creamy Mint) a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and garnished with a cinnamon.
- Stick and star anise – for a hot toddy alternative. Indian tonic and garnished with a medley of dehydrated citrus wheels for a touch of citrus aromas.
Whitley Neill Protea & Hibiscus Gin
Handcrafted gin of exceptional quality, inspired by the wild and natural beauty of Africa’s
landscape. Protea and hibiscus flavours combine to bring a distinctive floral note to create a
smooth gin with a unique and remarkable taste that reflects the majestic beauty of the two
flowers.
This gin works well with:
- Regular tonic garnished with a few naartjie segments and some dried hibiscus
flowers. Pour with some cranberry juice and soda and garnish with a beautiful leaf for an
Instagram moment. Zest over some orange oils and discard for aroma. - Grapefruit tonic garnish with a twist of grapefruit peel and a sprig of rosemary. Feel
free to set the sprig alight for some drama.
With so many interesting and exciting garnishes at our fingertips there’s no excuse not to
experiment and all the more reason to invest in a home gin bar to ‘wow’ your friends and
make your home the place to be this chilly, unexciting wintry season.
For more information about Whitley Neill Gin visit whitleyneillgin.co.za/the-range/ as well as their Facebook and Instagram.
To get in touch with Owen O’Reilly for more inspiration visit sipexclusive.com/ or follow him on Instagram.
