GIN seems as popular as ever right now and riding that wave is Domaine Asmara Vineyard.<\/p>\n
The Toolleen-based winery is hosting a distiller for the day event every Saturday for the month, so you can try your hand at making your own.<\/p>\n
Participants can learn and assist with making gin before taking a bottle of their own drop home to enjoy.<\/p>\n
Winery proprietor Andreas Grieving said attendees get to experience gin-making at its fullest.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn our case, it’s slightly different because we actually make the base spirit as well from our own grapes,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause we’ve got the vineyard we can make our own base spirits from that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI explain the process and at the moment it’s particularly good because customers can see the wine fermenting, which will then be put into the larger still and made into the base spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s during the production run that follows Mr Grieving said attendees will get to experience the flavour development of the gin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will run the small pot still, which is 50 litres, and we will make what is called our Mediterranean gin,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has got a lot of citrus flavours, fresh lemon and oranges, and of course a whole number of botanicals and fresh herbs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can’t give away all the secrets, but they’re 11 or 12 different botanicals added plus the fresh herbs.\u201d<\/p>\n
All the ingredients are as fresh as possible with many grown at the vineyard.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe use really fresh herbs, and the oranges and lemons are peeled fresh,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, we are not using dry peel product.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe end result is this beautiful gin with a real burst of lemon and orange flavours on the nose.\u201d<\/p>\n