Savory and sweet treats on offer

THE month-long initiative by Commerce Ballarat, Forage and Feast, is still underway in the region, and now it’s Kilderkin Distillery’s turn with the venue to host a special high tea this weekend to showcase local producers.

Taking place on Sunday 11 February from 12.30pm until 3pm, attendees will have the opportunity to try the distillery’s locally made gins with two curated cocktails.

Non-alcoholic and soft drink options are available.

“It’s a gin high tea so it’s like a high tea you might have at a hotel but with cocktails instead so it’s more of a boozy afternoon with food utilising local producers,” said venue manager Martin Tong.

“We will have a welcome cocktail and then a gin flight so people can taste a range of our gins either straight or with tonic soda to really get a sense of what the gins are all about.

“Then they get one last drink at the end as well to make sure they’re having a good afternoon.”

Alongside the drinks, a high tea of savory and sweet food will be served including produce from Backyard Beekeeping Ballarat, 1816 Bakehouse, Sweet Sage Farm and Meredith Dairy.

“1816 Bakehouse are providing some of their bread and delightful scones, on those scones there will be some Sweet Sage Farm jams, we’re also utilising Backyard Beekeeping honey and some Meredith goats cheese,” said Mr Tong.

Being a local business, Mr Tong said it is important for Kilderkin Distillery to support other producers in the region.

“Supporting local businesses is part of our business model and the core or our business is about using local ingredients,” he said.

“It just makes sense to support each other in a town like Ballarat where there are so many great local producers who might not have the same exposure.”

To book a ticket to the high tea visit the Central Highlands Growers and Producers Hub website.