Grandpa's Garden Gin: Three Ways to Drink Tash's Staff Release
Rhubarb, blackberry jam, and a gin made from memory.
Tash has spent a year behind the bar at Granddad's in Newcastle, and staff mark their first year here by making a spirit of their own. Hers is a tribute to her grandpa Dean, who always had a garden and turned everything he grew into jam. Rhubarb and blackberry jam in the batch, actual jam, with finger lime, lemon myrtle and pepper berry from the bush, and juniper holding it all together. Her mum, Angelique, painted the garden onto the label.
It's on the shelf at the distillery door and at Granddad's Bar in Newcastle now, and online right here. One small batch, hand-crafted, and there is no second one. Here's what to do with a bottle, easiest first.
Batch No. 1, 40%, 500ml, $95, recipe card in every box. Crafted by Natasha Keil, poured for Grandpa. Once it's gone, it's gone.
Shop Grandpa's Garden Gin Book Granddad's NewcastleThe Recipes
Sip: The Simple Pour
Two ingredients, one of which is Solo. The lemon squash does exactly what lemon does to jam on toast: cuts the sweetness and makes you go back in. We're as surprised as you are.
You'll need- 30ml Grandpa's Garden Gin
- Solo, to top
- Fresh blackberries, to garnish
Method: Fill a glass with ice and add 30ml Grandpa's Garden Gin. Top with Solo and drop the blackberries on. That's it. That's the pour.
If you can't find Solo, any cloudy lemon soda will do the job, but it won't feel as right.
0.9 standard drinks
Shake: The Garden Sour
The signature serve, and the one we'd rather make for you. It's jam and cream on toast turned into a cocktail: the jam in the syrup, the cream floating on top. This is what's pouring at the distillery bar and at Granddad's in Newcastle, where Tash makes it herself, and between the shaking, the double strain and the cold foam, it's a drink that's genuinely better on our side of the bar.
What's in it- 45ml Grandpa's Garden Gin
- 30ml sour apple and blackcurrant juice
- 15ml fresh lime juice
- 30ml blackberry jam syrup
- Vanilla cold foam, to top
- Shake everything except the foam hard with ice.
- Double strain over a big rock.
- Top with the vanilla cold foam and let it settle into a clean layer.
Come in and order one. If you're determined to chase it at home, the cold foam recipe is below, and we admire the commitment.
1.4 standard drinks
Share: The Garden Spritz
The one to make at home. Built, not shaken, topped with soda, and it scales straight to a jug for four, which is roughly how Dean's garden worked too: whatever's growing, shared around.
You'll need (jug for four in brackets)- 45ml (180ml) Grandpa's Garden Gin
- 20ml (80ml) fresh lime juice
- 20ml (80ml) sugar syrup
- 20ml (80ml) apple and blackcurrant juice
- Soda water, to top
- Fresh blackberries and orange slices, to garnish
- Build everything except the soda in a glass (or jug) full of ice.
- Stir once.
- Top with soda and garnish with blackberries and fresh orange.
1.4 standard drinks a glass. The jug holds about 5.7, roughly 1.4 per person across four.
Make Ahead: Vanilla Cold Foam
The cream on the toast. For the Garden Sour, or honestly for an iced coffee.
You'll need- 300ml heavy cream
- 200ml whole milk
- 75ml vanilla syrup
- Combine everything in a bowl or shaker.
- Lightly whisk until it's slightly beaten: thickened and pourable, not whipped.
- Keep cold and use the same day.
Make Ahead: Blackberry Jam Syrup
Jam, loosened into something a shaker can use.
You'll need- 200g blackberry jam
- 100ml hot water
- Whisk the jam into the hot water until fully dissolved.
- Fine strain to catch the seeds, cool, and bottle.
Keeps 2 weeks in the fridge. Grandpa Dean would tell you the better the jam, the better the drink, and he'd be right.
Grandpa's Garden Gin is Tash's staff release for her first year at Granddad's Bar, Newcastle. Rhubarb and blackberry jam from the garden, finger lime, lemon myrtle and pepper berry from the bush, juniper holding it all together, and a label hand painted by her mum. Batch No. 1, 40%, 500ml, $95, hand-crafted, with the recipe card and coasters in every box. Join us at Granddad's Newcastle from Tuesday 6 October, when Tash launches it on home turf, to raise one with her for her first year.
Shop Grandpa's Garden Gin Book Granddad's NewcastlePicked from memory. Poured for Grandpa.