Celebrate World Martini Day with a Schnappy-tini

Some cocktails are drinks. Some are rituals. The Martini is both.

Cold glass, clear spirit, a little theatre, and just enough attitude to make everyone at the bar have an opinion. Gin or vodka? Lemon twist or olive? Wet, dry, dirty, shaken, stirred — vermouth free?

This week, we’re raising a glass to World Martini Day, but because we do things a little differently here in the Snowy Mountains, we’re calling it World Schnappy-tini Day.

At wildbrumby, our Martinis have a mountain accent. We still love the classics, but we also like to bring in a little schnapps, a little alpine fruit, and a little winter character.

And with the winter solstice arriving this weekend, it feels like the perfect time for a cold, sharp, elegant drink while the nights are at their longest.

Our Martini Story

A Martini is one of those drinks where the story is almost as important as the drink itself.

Its origins are a little hazy, which feels appropriate for something so sharply debated. Many trace it back to the Martinez — a 19th-century mix of gin, vermouth and bitters. Over time, it evolved into something cleaner and more precise, eventually becoming the Martini we know today.

By the early 20th century, it had become a symbol of refinement: simple ingredients, endless interpretation.

A classic Martini is typically gin and dry vermouth, stirred over ice and served very cold. From there, everything becomes personal. Some prefer a whisper of vermouth. Others prefer almost none at all.

Winston Churchill famously leaned toward the extreme dry end of the spectrum — a Martini so dry that vermouth was more idea than ingredient. One story even claims he simply acknowledged vermouth by glancing toward France while pouring his gin.

Then came James Bond, who added drama with his “shaken, not stirred” order and the iconic Vesper Martini in *Casino Royale*, combining gin, vodka, and Kina Lillet with cinematic flair.

Between Churchill’s restraint and Bond’s spectacle lies the Martini’s true identity: endlessly adaptable, deeply personal, and always a little theatrical.

At wildbrumby, we take that spirit and give it an alpine twist — a little fruit, a little schnapps, and a lot of mountain character.

Easy Schnappy-tini Recipes

A Martini for the Longest Night

The Martini has travelled a long way — from early cocktail bars to movie sets, debates, variations, and reinventions.

Here in the mountains, we like it with a little more character.

So this World Martini Day, whether you prefer yours classic, savoury, fruity, strong, or schnappy with an alpine edge, raise a glass to winter, long nights, and doing things a little differently.

More Easy Cocktail Recipes

Looking for more easy cocktail recipes? Explore more Wildbrumby cocktail ideas or visit our Snowy Mountains distillery.

3 Gin Cocktails to Celebrate World Gin Day

World Gin Day is back. A small pause in the calendar made for alpine gin-spiration, a good pour, and the kind of easy moments that are best shared.

Saturday 13 June 2026 marks World Gin Day, and to celebrate we’re bringing back our Gin & Tonic Trio Party Pack — saving a whopping $101 for gin lovers looking to stock up.

Alongside it, we’ve put together three easy gin cocktails you can make at home. Simple, refreshing, and designed to bring a little of the Snowy Mountains into your glass.

And if you’re curious, there’s also a glimpse into our own gin story — how it all came to be, one batch at a time.

Our Gin Story

Nestled in the heart of the Snowy Mountains, Wildbrumby Distillery has always been guided by a simple idea: exceptional spirits begin with pure mountain water, carefully chosen botanicals, and a quiet balance between art and science.

Our gin is shaped by alpine spring water with a naturally refined mineral profile, and a distinctive blend of juniper, native mountain pepper berry, and organic citrus grown in the family orchard. The result is a spirit that sits soft in the glass—smooth, rounded, and quietly expressive.

Wildbrumby’s journey didn’t begin with gin. It began with schnapps, inspired by founder Brad Spalding’s time in the Austrian Alps. From those early days of traditional distilling in the Snowy Mountains, the path evolved through fruit liqueurs, vodka, and wine-based spirits—each step refining a deeper understanding of flavour, provenance, and texture.

Over time, that focus led naturally to gin. A spirit where balance matters as much as character, and where alpine botanicals could speak clearly and without distraction. The result is an award-winning expression of Australian alpine craft—recognised for its purity, complexity, and distinctive mouthfeel.

For World Gin Day, we’re celebrating with three simple cocktails designed to let that character shine. Nothing complicated—just bright, refreshing serves that highlight citrus, fruit, spice, and botanicals in equal measure. Think easy G&Ts with a twist, a sparkling fruit-forward collins, and a smooth, slightly spiced alpine-style classic.

Sip the spirit of the Snowy Mountains and get gin-spired.

Easy Gin Cocktail Recipes

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More Easy Cocktail Recipes

Looking for more easy cocktail recipes? Explore more Wildbrumby cocktail ideas or visit our Snowy Mountains distillery.

From Orchard to Glass — A Distiller’s Favourite

There’s something quietly special about pear schnapps.

It doesn’t shout for attention. It draws you in slowly — soft, aromatic, delicate, and beautifully balanced. It’s the kind of spirit that rewards patience, both in the glass and in the making.

And for us, it’s personal.

Pear schnapps has long been our distiller’s favourite — not only to drink, but to produce. There’s a particular satisfaction in working with pears. Their subtle transformation through fermentation and distillation, and that moment when everything comes together into something elegant and unmistakably alpine.

At the heart of our pear schnapps are Williams pears from Shepparton. Juicy, fragrant, and naturally refined, they bring the perfect balance of sweetness, aroma, and character to the spirit.

It Starts Green

One of the most fascinating things about Williams pears is that they’re harvested green.

Unlike many fruits, pears don’t ripen properly on the tree. They’re picked while still firm and bright green, then begin their real transformation after harvest.

Once they arrive at our distillery in the Snowy Mountains, we let them rest in the alpine sun. Over a few days, they gradually shift from green to a beautiful yellow-gold, softening, sweetening, and developing the delicate aromatics that define the final spirit.

“That moment — when the pears shift from green to gold — that’s when the flavour really arrives.”

As our distiller Sebastian explains, without that shift you don’t get the depth or softness we’re looking for.

A Spirit with Alpine Roots

Pear schnapps has deep roots across Central Europe — particularly Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and northern Italy.

Traditionally made in farming communities, it was a way to preserve the autumn harvest through colder months. It became part of mountain hospitality — served after meals, shared with guests, and enjoyed alongside cheese, smoked meats, walnuts, and dark bread.

The most famous style, Williamsbirne, is made from the same Williams pear variety we use today.

That connection between alpine culture and pear schnapps feels especially natural at wildbrumby — a spirit shaped by mountain traditions, patience, and respect for good fruit.

Cocktails That Let the Pear Shine

Pear schnapps is wonderfully versatile, but the best cocktails are the ones that let the fruit speak clearly.

Alpine Pear Spritz

A fresh, bright, and effortless alpine-style spritz.

Quick Facts
Prep time: 2 minutes
Style: Fresh & bright
Skill level: Easy

Ingredients

• 45 ml pear schnapps
• 40 ml pear juice
• 60 ml soda water
• Dash of almond bitters
• Pear slice, to garnish

Method

1. Add ingredients to an ice-filled wine glass.
2. Top with soda water.
3. Gently stir.
4. Garnish with pear slice.

Light, aromatic, and perfect for relaxed alpine afternoons.

Something Gone Pear-Shaped

Silky, structured, and beautifully balanced with subtle spice.

Quick Facts
Prep time: 5 minutes
Style: Silky & citrusy
Skill level: Intermediate

Ingredients

• 45 ml pear schnapps
• 30 ml vodka
• 20 ml lemon juice
• 1 egg white (or aquafaba)
• Black pepper shrub

Method

1. Dry shake all ingredients.
2. Add ice and shake again.
3. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Black Pepper Shrub

• 1 part water
• 1 part vinegar
• 2 parts sugar
• Cracked black pepper

Gently heat, infuse with pepper, then cool and strain.

Elegant, slightly spicy, and surprisingly soft.

Hot Pear Toddy

Warming, comforting, and made for cold mountain evenings.

Quick Facts
Prep time: 5 minutes
Style: Warm & spiced
Skill level: Easy

Ingredients

• 45 ml pear schnapps
• 45 ml white wine (Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc)
• 1 tsp honey
• 100 ml cloudy pear juice
• Cinnamon
• Star anise
• Clove

Method

1. Warm all ingredients gently (do not boil).
2. Strain into a mug.

Best enjoyed warm on a cold night when everything feels slightly more cinematic than necessary.

From Orchard to Glass

Pear schnapps is a spirit defined by patience — from green orchard fruit to golden alpine expression.

It’s subtle, aromatic, and quietly confident — the kind of drink that doesn’t need to announce itself to be remembered.

3 Easy Vodka Cocktails Anyone Can Make

Great cocktails don’t need to be complicated. Sometimes the best drinks are the simplest — when quality ingredients and a beautifully crafted spirit do most of the work.

At Wildbrumby Distillery in the foothills of Australia’s Snowy Mountains, our Kosciuszko Vodka is crafted to shine in exactly these moments. Exceptionally smooth and beautifully refined, it brings a clean alpine character that works just as well in a simple soda as it does in a classic martini.

Below are three easy vodka cocktails you can make at home — each one designed to showcase the silky texture and bright elegance of Kosciuszko Vodka.

The Story Behind Kosciuszko Vodka

Vodka is often described as a neutral spirit — but the truth is, great vodka is anything but neutral. The finest vodkas are defined by their ingredients, distillation technique, and the environment in which they are crafted.

Kosciuszko Vodka begins with a South Australian Chardonnay grape base spirit, giving it a silky texture and refined mouthfeel rarely found in traditional grain vodkas.

The idea began as an experiment between Wildbrumby founder Brad Spalding and renowned Australian wine expert Michael Hill-Smith MW. Together they distilled M3 Chardonnay from Shaw + Smith in the Adelaide Hills in our German-built Kothe still “Florence,” discovering a remarkably smooth spirit with elegant texture and subtle complexity. It was this moment that sparked Brad’s passion for grape-based spirits, and the discovery shaped the direction of many wildbrumby products.

Today, while we no longer use the M3 Chardonnay itself, that philosophy continues. Kosciuszko Vodka is crafted from a South Australian Chardonnay base, but every bottle reflects the clean alpine air, pure water, and independent spirit of the Snowy Mountains.

Kosciuszko Vodka is Pure Australian Alpine Perfection.

Kosciuszko Vodka Cocktail Recipes

More Alpine Cocktail Inspiration

Looking for more cocktail ideas? Explore more Wildbrumby cocktail recipes on our blog, or visit the distillery in the Snowy Mountains to experience our spirits where they are crafted.