Rach's Staff Release 2026: Three Ways to Drink Herbal Oak Gin
Of course the Scot wanted to make a Scotch. It was only ever going to go that way.
The rules had other ideas. Scotch has to come from Scotland, and Miami, Queensland is a long way from Inverness. So Rach made the next best thing: a postcard home.
Juniper, heather flower, pine and blaeberry bring a bit of the Scottish hillside into the still, then charred oak spirals give it colour, weight and that smoky edge.
It's not Scotch. It was never going to be. But at 57%, it's got enough grunt to stand in the same room.
The unicorn got the label. The hillside went into the bottle. Now for the important part: how Rach drinks it.
144 bottles, $95 each. One-off. When they're gone, that's it.
Shop Rach's Herbal Oak Gin Book a Tour / TastingThe Recipes
Sip: The Perfect Pour
The easiest one, and the best place to start. Gin, tonic, lemon, juniper. No need to make this harder than it is.
You'll need- 30ml Rach's Herbal Oak Gin
- Long Rays Pacific Tonic Water, to top
- 2 fresh lemon slices, cut into half moons
- 3 juniper berries
Method: Fill a glass with ice and add 30ml Rach's Herbal Oak Gin. Add the two fresh lemon half moons and three juniper berries, then top with Long Rays Pacific Tonic Water.
A good spirit should be able to hold its own in its simplest form. This one does.
1.4 standard drinks
Stir: Harry & Marble
Our hero pour. Herbal, bitter, citrusy and built for taking your time.
It's named after Harry and Marble, Rach's two horses. Harry is the ginger Shetland. Marble is considerably bigger. Apparently one obsession from home wasn't enough.
You'll need- 30ml Rach's Herbal Oak Gin
- 5ml amaro
- 20ml Earl Grey syrup, recipe below
- 20ml fresh lemon juice
- Rosemary, to garnish
- Dehydrated lemon wheel, to garnish
- Add everything to a mixing tin with ice.
- Stir down until properly chilled.
- Strain over a large cube.
- Garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel and rosemary.
Yes, there's fresh lemon in it. Yes, we're stirring it. That's deliberate. It keeps the drink softer and denser, with the Earl Grey, amaro and oak sitting together rather than turning it into a traditional sour.
The Earl Grey brings bergamot and tannin, the amaro gives it a bitter edge, and the rosemary pulls you straight back towards the pine in the gin.
1.4 standard drinks
Share: Packs a Punch
A jug for four. Apple, lemon, Earl Grey, honey, ginger beer and 160ml of Rach's gin. The name isn't decorative.
You'll need- 160ml Rach's Herbal Oak Gin
- 80ml apple juice
- 80ml fresh lemon juice
- 60ml Earl Grey syrup
- 20ml honey
- Ginger beer, to top
- Apple slices, lemon slices and rosemary, to garnish
- Stir the honey into the Earl Grey syrup first.
- Build everything else in a jug over plenty of ice.
- Top with ginger beer and give it one gentle stir.
- Garnish with apple, lemon and rosemary.
- Pour for the table and let the jug do the rest.
The apple picks up the Granny Smith in the gin, while ginger beer works nicely with the warmth from the charred oak. It's the easiest of the three to put in front of a table and watch disappear.
Serves four. Approx. 7.2 standard drinks in the jug, about 1.8 per glass.
Make Ahead: Earl Grey Syrup
The house-made bit behind Harry & Marble and Packs a Punch. Make it once and you've done most of the work for both.
You'll need- Peel of 1 lemon
- 5 Earl Grey tea bags
- 500g white sugar
- 500ml water
- Peel the lemon and add the peel to a pot with the tea bags, sugar and water.
- Bring to the boil, then take it straight off the heat.
- Leave to cool completely.
- Strain, bottle and refrigerate.
Makes around 700ml. Keep refrigerated and use within four weeks.
Rach's Herbal Oak Gin is a one-off staff release. Juniper, heather, pine and blaeberry through the still, charred oak spirals afterwards, and 57% in the bottle. 144 bottles, $95 each. There isn't a second batch waiting behind it.
Shop Rach's Herbal Oak Gin Book a Tour / TastingSlà inte mhath.