Tag Archives: distillers-blog

The Formation of a Travel-worthy Destination

As we mark 21 years in the craft distillery industry, it’s a momentous occasion worth celebrating! Throughout our journey, we’ve prided ourselves on doing things a little differently. We’ve been distilling long before it became a trend, and that pioneering spirit continues to guide us.

From the outset, Brad and Monika had a grander vision beyond merely crafting a brand. They aimed to carve out a destination nestled within the serene landscapes of the Snowy Mountains. Unlike many others, our journey didn’t commence in some nondescript industrial shed tucked away from prying eyes.

Using Recycled Building Materials

Our original Still-house stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainability. Constructed using recycled timber and corrugated iron, with beams repurposed from an old bridge, it embodies our ethos of giving materials a second chance to be part of a meaningful narrative.

Sustainability has been ingrained in our operations from the very beginning. Preserving the Snowy Mountains’ pristine beauty has always been our top priority.

Harnessing the Power of Nature

One of our earliest initiatives involved installing three worm farms to effectively manage our organic byproducts, transforming them into nutrient-rich compost. Recently, we welcomed a new addition to our distillery grounds: a beehive. This hive serves as a vital pollinator for our organic raspberry patch and other fruit trees, ensuring their continued vitality and contributing to the local ecosystem.

Furthermore, we’ve embraced solar power, with 32 panels adorning our original building and an additional 50 gracing our main production facility. These panels power our 600-litre Still “Joan” and sustain our off-grid staff accommodation, symbolizing our commitment to harnessing renewable energy sources.

The same solar panels that energize our whole operation also power a recently acquired electric car used for local deliveries, exemplifying our dedication to reducing our carbon footprint.

Waste not, Want not

Moreover, we’ve implemented innovative water-saving measures, including a closed-circuit cooling system for distillation and the operation of our own Sewage Treatment Plant for wastewater management. Additionally, all kitchen oil is meticulously collected and repurposed for biodiesel production.

Our commitment to sustainability also benefits our community. Our leftover gin botanicals play a role in supporting local business Rockstock Deli. These botanicals are utilized for curing meats, smallgoods, and smoked Snowy Mountain trout, fostering collaboration within our community while minimizing waste.

Visitors to our distillery will notice our commitment to bottle refills during tastings, a conscious effort to minimize unnecessary glass waste. Furthermore, our dedication to sustainability extends to our online store in our choice of packaging materials, which are proudly biodegradable. 

At Wildbrumby Distillery, sustainability isn’t just a checkbox; it’s a way of life ingrained in every facet of our operation. As we embark on the next leg of our eco-friendly spirits expedition, we remain steadfast in our commitment to preserving the environment while crafting exceptional spirits that reflect the pristine beauty of the Snowy Mountains.

Shop our range of schnapps, gin and vodka here.

To purchase your own eco-friendly bio-degradable plastics for home or business use, we recommend Biogone: https://www.biogone.com.au/ 

For more information on Rock Stock Deli, visit their website here: https://www.rockstock.net.au/ 

We drive an MG EV. View here to see their range of electric vehicles.

We are open all Easter Long Weekend, and there is lots to see and do!

1. Free Tasting

Sample the selection of seasonal and year-round schnapps, gins and vodkas, all day, every day across the Easter long weekend. Rock up at the tasting counter, and one of our wildbrumby team members will be only too happy to guide you through the menu.

2. Raspberry Season

Try our latest seasonal schnapps – Raspberry! February to April is raspberry season at wildbrumby – when our organic raspberry patch is harvested.

The Easter weekend will also be one of your last chances to catch another of our seasonal stars – Mango schnapps.

SHOP NOW

3. Jindabyne Art and Artisan Trail

This year, we’ll be participating in the Jindabyne Art and Artisan Trail. Stretch your legs, soak up the sun, and take a walk in our sculpture garden. For more info on participants, check out the interactive map online at Creative South, or pick up a brochure in the shop. You can also check out a quick video on our Instagram page here.

4. Ride an E-Bike

Got energy to burn? Ride an E-bike up Wollondibby Road to explore an aromatic forest of Candlebark Gums and White Sallees. Turn around when you reach the gate, just past Nowhere…You’ll know Nowhere when you see it. Look for the Brumbies!   

5. Schnappy Hoppy Hour

Dusk is when the roos come out to play. The deck out back of wildbrumby Café and Distillery is the best place to relax and observe the local wildlife come to hang! We’re open a little longer – until 6 pm on Fridays and Saturdays – so you can make the most of this magical moment. To sweeten the deal, from 4 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s Schnappy Hour! Get a Schnapps Flight for $9, instead of the regular $12.

6. Browse the Shop and Gallery

Stillhouse café is a treasure trove of kitsch objects, artisanal crafts and fine art. Eye-catching works by local Crackenback artists Zoe Young and Brad Spalding grace nearly every wall. In the shop you’ll find an assortment of handmade items designed to bring a little bit of Austrian homeliness to wildbrumby. For the keenest observers, there’s also one rude gnome to be found somewhere in the restaurant…We call him – our complaints department.

7. Florence, the Machine

No, not Florence & The Machine of Rock musical fame. Our Florence is a working still imported from Germany, and the very first to produce schnapps at wildbrumby distillery. These days, we normally make use of our much larger still, Joan, who hides in the shed. Florence, she’s a flirty one, though. She can be admired within the Stillhouse café, right behind the tastings counter.

8. Ring the Bells

There’s nothing like the ringing of a cow bell to make you feel like you’re on an Austrian mountain farm. There are numerous bells around the property, waiting to be tinkled. Alternatively, order a Schnapps Flight to your table, and we’ll ring the bells for you.

9. Pose as a Swiftie

In honour of Tay Tay’s recent Eras tour down under, artist Spalding has painted a brilliant photo cut-out board to make your dreams come true. Pose as Taylor Swift in performance mode or as one of her loyal followers (swifties).

10. Find the Scarred Tree

Thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans and brumbies, the Thredbo Valley was a place of transit, hunting, and gathering for the Ngarigo and Manaroo peoples. Many quartz artefacts have been found throughout the valley, particularly at Crackenback. Scarred trees provide another archaeological clue of how the Ngarigo people lived ingenuously off the land. Aboriginal people would deliberately cut bark away from trees for a variety of practical purposes, leaving tissue that would dry, then die, leaving a ‘scar’ on which no bark could grow again. The scarred tree on the grounds of wildbrumby looks to archaeologists to have been hollowed out to make a bowl. Can you find it?

Finally, at wildbrumby we encourage fun in all its forms, but think you’ll have the best fun if you follow our responsibility code (see below). Help us look after our beautiful Alpine environment, thus paying our respects to the original custodians of the land, the Ngarigo people and their elders past, present and emerging.

We’re looking forward to seeing you over Easter!

Summer is upon us, and what better way to celebrate the season of sunshine and warmth than with a sip of pure berry bliss? We’re thrilled to announce the return of our much-loved Pure Berry Schnapps, and let me tell you, this year’s vintage is an absolute showstopper!

Picture this: rolling fields adorned with ripe raspberries, plump blackberries, juicy blueberries, and tangy red and black currants—all handpicked at the peak of perfection to capture nature’s true essence. Our team has been hard at work, meticulously bottling this fruity symphony to bring you a limited release that’s sure to tantalize your taste buds.

What sets our Pure Berry Schnapps apart is its unparalleled versatility. Whether you prefer to enjoy it neat, savouring each nuanced flavour, or over ice for a refreshing kick, the possibilities are endless. But why stop there when you can elevate your experience with a creative cocktail infusion?

Imagine the magic of our Pure Berry Schnapps mingling with the smoothness of our Kosciuszko Vodka or the botanical beauty of our Rubus Patch Gin. The result? A concoction so delightful that we’ve dubbed it the supercali-BERRY-licious-expialidocious cocktail. It’s not just a drink; it’s a symphony of flavours that’ll have you singing its praises.

So, as the days grow longer and the temperatures rise, let our Pure Berry Schnapps be your go-to companion for all your summer soirées and backyard gatherings. Whether you’re toasting to the sunset or dancing under the stars, each sip will transport you to a berry-filled paradise—a celebration of nature’s bounty in its purest form.

supercali-BERRY-licious-expialidocious cocktail

45 ml Wildbrumby Pure Berry Schnapps
30 ml Kosciuszko Vodka
30 ml fresh Lime Juice
1 Egg White

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and give it light shakes to create a beautiful foam.

Then add the ice and keep shaking until the shaker is icy cold to the touch. Carefully strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a few freshly picked berries for an irresistible finish.

BERRY SPRITZER

45 ml wildbrumby Pure Berry Schnapps
30 ml Rubus Patch Gin
20 ml fresh Lime Juice
Fever Tree Ginger Ale
​

Pour all of the Berry Spritzer ingredients into an ice-filled tall glass.

Top off with Fever Tree Ginger Ale and garnish with juicy berries and a sprig of fresh mint.

Come peek behind the scenes with our incredible Production Team, where things can get wild. This time, they’ve outdone themselves with our latest creation—the limited-edition Hazelnut Schnapps.

Imagine the best hazelnuts we could find, toasted just right to bring out all their amazing smells. Then, these tasty nuts join “Joan,” our small batch still, and the magic happens. What comes out is a hazelnut-infused drink like a flavour party in your mouth.

This schnapps is something special because we didn’t make a ton of it—just enough for those who love trying unique things. It’s not your everyday drink; it’s a rare, one-time-only treat that’s all about making your taste buds dance.

You can enjoy it straight up, over ice, or mixed into your hot chocolate. Are you feeling fancy? Shake things up with a Hazelnut Martini! There are many ways to savour this drink, and each sip is like a bit of adventure.

So, let’s raise our glasses to try new stuff and enjoy something extraordinary. Our Hazelnut Liqueur Schnapps is here for a good time, not a long time. Cheers!

Cocktail Recepies

Nut-tini:

Get ready for a flavour explosion with our Nut-tini—a drink that’s all about indulgence without the fuss.

Ingredients:

• 45 ml wildbrumby Hazelnut Schnapps
• 45 ml Kosciuszko Vodka

Instructions:

1. Mix everything in a mixing glass with ice.
2. Give it a good stir until the outside gets all frosty.
3. Pour it into a super cold Martini Glass.
4. Finish it with a fancy touch—throw in a toasted hazelnut and a hint of Chocolate Bitters.

Take a sip, enjoy, and let the Hazelnut Martini be your ticket to a new level of yum!

Hazelnut-Ginger Fizz:

Keep it cool with our Hazelnut-Ginger Fizz—a drink that’s as easy-going as it is delicious.

Ingredients:

• 45 ml wildbrumby Hazelnut Schnapps
• Fever Tree Dry Ginger Ale

Instructions:

1. Pour your wildbrumby Hazelnut Schnapps into a tall glass with ice.
2. Top it up with Fever Tree Dry Ginger Ale.
3. Make it look fancy with a slice of orange and a cute cocktail cherry.

Take a sip, feel the fizz, and let the Hazelnut-Ginger Fizz be your go-to for laid-back vibes and tasty sips. Cheers to easy, breezy, and oh-so-delicious drinks!

Here at wildbrumby, wintertime is our favourite season! To share the joy, we’ve got a selection of warming winter cocktails for you to try at home.

Roaring fireplaces, snow angels, ski slopes and snowflakes – the world is a little more magical at this time of the year. Ok, maybe winter looks a bit different to you. But we think you’ll agree that this season isn’t complete without a mug of hot gluhwein or a steamy winter warmer. So, to toast the winter, we’re sharing a few must-try winter cocktail recipes so you can re-create the spirit of the Snowies in your own home.

Here’s a hot tip… 

The secret to any warm cocktail is to pre-heat your mug or heat resistant glass. To do this, pour hot water straight from the kettle into your vessel of choice and allow the heat to warm it up. Just remember to discard the hot water before serving your cocktail. Now, get creating the perfect Après treat!

Glühwein

You can’t make a list of must-try winter cocktails without mentioning the king of all winter warmers. Glühwein is a warm, wine-based drink enjoyed throughout western Europe during wintertime, mulled with a delicious blend of wintery spices. The literal translation in German is ‘glow-wine’, and that is exactly what this drink does. One sip and you’ll be glowing with warmth from head to toe.

How to make it:

All the hard work is done for you with this fusion of spiced wine and pink lady apple schnapps. Simply pour a bottle of our wildbrumby Glühwein into a pot. Add a cinnamon stick, star anise, orange slices and heat on a stovetop. Make sure to heat the liquid without bringing it to the boil. Once warm, serve into 4 pre-heated mugs and garnish each with a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick.

Faceplant 

The best kind of Faceplant you’ll have all day! Baked Apple Schnapps brings home the sweet spirit of home-grown pink lady apples, cinnamon, cloves and star anise — and a velvet layer of whipped cream on top will soon melt away all memories of any snow-related mishaps.

Ingredients: 

25mL wildbrumby baked apple schnapps
whipped cream
cinnamon

How to make it: 

Gently warm your wildbrumby baked apple schnapps in the Microwave for 10-15 seconds in a shot glass. Top with whipped cream and add a light dusting of cinnamon. Sip and savour with friends, preferably in front of a roaring fire.

Our wildbrumby baked apple schnapps is a seasonal product and will only be available for a limited time during winter.

Schnapperol Spritz 

Perfect for those bluebird days! Here’s a cooler alternative for when you’re sitting in the sun, surrounded by friends and springtime snow.

Ingredients: 
50ml Wildbrumby Negroni
Fever Tree Blood Orange Soda

How to make it: 

First, fill a large wineglass with lots of ice. Add our wildbrumby Negroni and top up with Fever Tree Blood Orange Soda. Garnish with a slice of orange or a blood orange, and star anise.

Stay warm this winter, and don’t forget that all wildbrumby ingredients are available online or at our distillery door.

Liquid Apple-Butterscotch Pie

What’s better than apple pie? How about an apple pie with butterscotch… in liquid form!

That is exactly what this drink is. Delicious toffee notes from our signature wildbrumby Butterscotch Schnapps matched with cinnamon spice and apple sweetness. You’ll want a second serving of this drink. Better still, it is low in alcohol volume. So, you can enjoy a little bit more after a long day on the slopes.

Ingredients: 

200mL wildbrumby butterscotch schnapps
400mL cinnamon tea
400mL sparkling apple juice

How to make it: 

Make the Cinnamon Tea by placing 2 cinnamon sticks and 2 cups water into a pot. Bring to boil and allow the tea to simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. At the same time, heat 2 cups of Sparkling Apple Juice in a separate pot over the stove and bring to the boil.

Once your cinnamon tea and sparkling apple juice are heated, add 100mL of each to a pre-heated mug and top with 50mL wildbrumby Butterscotch Schnapps. Repeat this step to achieve four serves and garnish each mug with a cinnamon stick.

Negroni Tea

Possibly the simplest cocktail on our list is the Negroni Tea. Our wildbrumby Negroni is an expert blend of our award-winning classic gin, our seasonal baked apple schnapps, and a dash of homemade Italian bitters. It’s all there in the bottle. Ready for you to enjoy over ice with a slice of orange. Imbued with vibrant spices, there is only one thing that could make this cocktail more perfect for winter – give it a hot twist!

Ingredients: 

120mL rooibos tea
60mL wildbrumby negroni

How to make it: 

Add boiled water and rooibos tea to a teapot and brew for 4 – 5 minutes. For one serve, pour 120mL of rooibos tea into a pre-heated mug and top with 60mL of wildbrumby Negroni. Rooibos tea combined with our wildbrumby Negroni is vibrant in colour and has a berry, spice-filled scent that will awaken your senses all by itself.

Sweet and sinful with just the right amount of sting – our wildbrumby devil’s tongue chilli schnapps is the brilliant combination of habanero chilli and pink lady apples.

This schnapps has converted chilli rejecters, and inspired new flavour possibilities in the minds of life-long chilli lovers.

On days where all four seasons want to make an appearance, chilli would have to be the perfect ingredient to play with in cocktails. It’s soul warming against a cool breeze, and vibrantly zing-y under a glowing sun. You can enjoy these cocktails hot or iced – and to top it off, the flavour combinations are almost endless.

New to the chilli trend or a diehard chaser of chilli heat? We have a cocktail for you.

Here are four of our favourite chilli-inspired cocktails using our wildbrumby devil’s tongue. You’ve been warned: this schnapps has bite!

To bring these cocktails to life, you can purchase our wildbrumby devil’s tongue schnapps here.

Strawberry Sting

Chilli and strawberry are the surprising pair that you won’t be able to get enough of! Especially when summer wants to say ‘hello’ in late autumn – or when friends spontaneously pop around with a devilish cheese platter.

Ingredients:

30mL wildbrumby devil’s tongue
30mL strawberry syrup
soda water
punnet of strawberries

How to make it:

To make your strawberry simple syrup, quarter 5 strawberries before mashing in a small pot.

Add 100g white sugar and 120mL water to the pot. Bring to a simmer and stir till the sugar has dissolved before taking it off the heat. Once the mixture has cooled and taken on a reddish-pink colour, strain the contents into a small jug.

Now that you have your strawberry syrup – it’s go time! Pour wildbrumby devil’s tongue schnapps and your strawberry syrup into an ice filled glass. Top with soda water and garnish with halved strawberries.

This recipe will make 6 servings. Bottomless Strawberry Stings anyone?

Donner & Blitz

Long-time fans of our wildbrumby devil’s tongue will flaunt this cocktail as one of their favourite ways to drink the spicy-sweet schnapps – and with one sip you can see why.

The Donner & Blitz cocktail, meaning thunder and lightning in German, has all the punch of habanero chilli backed up by a ginger ale zing. Better still, it’s easy to make!

Ingredients:

30mL wildbrumby devil’s tongue
ginger beer
sprig of mint to garnish

How to make it:

Simply pour our wildbrumby devil’s tongue schnapps into a tall, ice filled glass. Top with ginger ale and garnish with a sprig of mint.

If you’re a die-hard chilli lover and looking for a bit more heat, try this recipe with 60mL wildbrumby devil’s tongue.

Dreamy Devil

This is a classy martini-style cocktail that can be enjoyed any time of the year – and there are endless variations at your fingertips if you like to play around with ingredients. But if you are a lover of chilli and chocolate, then this is most certainly the devilish treat for you.

Ingredients:

30mL wildbrumby devil’s tongue
30mL chocolate simple syrup
30mL thickened cream
20mL kosciuszko vodka
dark chocolate to garnish

How to make it:

Making your chocolate simple syrup is easier than you might think.

In a small, pourable cup add 60mL of hot water from the kettle to 2 tablespoons of dark chocolate drinking powder. Stir till your mixture is free from chocolate clumps before adding 50g of white sugar. Continue to stir until the sugar has dissolved and allow the mixture to cool.

Once you have your chocolate simple syrup ready to go, combine all ingredients in an ice filled bar shaker. Shake thoroughly and serve in a chilled martini coup. Garnish with dark chocolate shavings.

Chilli Hot Chocolate

Speaking of chilli and chocolate… have you tried our wildbrumby devil’s tongue schnapps in a hot chocolate?

Ingredients:
30mL wildbrumby devil’s tongue
hot chocolate
marshmallows

How to make it:

We love serving this cold weather treat to our distillery guests – it’s a true soul warmer. Whilst we’re not going to share all our secrets, here is how you can make your version of our chilli hot chocolate at home.

Make yourself a piping-hot mug of hot chocolate using your favourite method. Just before serving add 30mL of our wildbrumby devil’s tongue schnapps to your mug. Don’t forget the marshmallows.

Imagine a deliciously warming, mountain schnapps that blends the sweet spirit of Australian pink lady apples with traditional wintery spices; cinnamon, cloves and star anise…

Distilled in ‘Florence’ our small batch pot still, Baked Apple Schnapps is a sumptuous fireside tipple only available in winter that makes delicious cocktails (read on) and now ranks as of our most anticipated seasonal schnapps.

Blending blissfully with award-winning wildbrumby gin for a wintery martini, it is also the inspiration behind our winter Negroni, which combines Baked Apple Schnapps with our classic gin and a dash of homemade Italian bitters.

What is schnapps?

Schnapps is native to the European Alps, where the winters are too cold for traditional wine production. The word ‘schnapps’ is derived from a German noun that means to ‘swallow’ — hence it was traditionally served in a little glass and consumed immediately. In Europe it is also commonplace to have a ‘shot’ between each round of beer.

Made from the fermented fruit that grows in these regions, schnapps is traditionally dry and high in alcohol (40%).

How is wildbrumby schnapps different?

Wildbrumby’s range of premium schnapps follows the traditional 40%, but our 15 years’ experience of schnapps distilling in the Australian Snowies has taught us that local palates prefer an easy-drinking liqueur-style schnapps of around 18% alcohol volume.

This is sweeter and fruitier than our premium schnapps range, so we call it liqueur schnapps and it is made from the highest-quality fermented fruit in our region. Our philosophy has always been to source the very best of everything, from fruit and spices, to our pure, pH-balanced alpine spring water.

How do you drink schnapps?

All schnapps can be served chilled and consumed neat or over ice, but its unique flavour profile also makes it an ideal addition to wintery cocktails such as the Faceplant and the Negroni. However you choose to serve it up, this schnapps is most certainly one to sip and savour with friends and family around the fire on a cold winter’s day.

Check out our favourite baked apple cocktail recipes:

Faceplant 

The Faceplant serves up the sweet spirit of home-grown Pink Lady apples, cinnamon, cloves and star anise, with a velvet layer of whipped cream on top.

Ingredients:
25 ml wildbrumby Baked Apple Schnapps
Whipped cream
Cinnamon

Method: Warm Baked Apple Schnapps gently in the microwave for 10-15 seconds in a shot glass. Top with whipped cream and add a light dusting of cinnamon.

Baked Apple Delight

Ingredients:
60 ml Wildbrumby Baked apple schnapps
30 ml Kosciusko vodka
30 ml apple juice
30 ml cream

Method: Add all ingredients to an ice filled cocktail shaker and shake till cold. Double strain into chilled martini glass and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Winter Negroni

You can order a ready-made bottle of from the wildbrumby shop, but you can also create your own version.

Ingredients:
Baked Apple Schnapps
wildbrumby gin
Bitters
Orange slice

Method: Blend Baked Apple Schnapps with your favourite gin (to taste), add a dash of bitters, and serve in a lowball glass with ice and a slice of orange to garnish.

Baked Apple Sour

Ingredients:
60 ml Wildbrumby Baked apple schnapps
30 ml Kosciusko Vodka
20 ml fresh lemon juice
1 egg white (or 30 ml aquafaba (chickpea juice)

Method: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, shake dry (without ice) for 15 seconds then add ice and shake until cold.
Double strain onto ice filled tumbler, garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

The martini is a prince among cocktails, oozing style and panache in every sip.

But for a drink that has endured so long through the ages, it remains stubbornly difficult to master.

Many will tell you the secret to mixing a great martini comes down to selecting the right ingredients and then balancing them perfectly. However, there are a few other factors you need to consider when embarking on this fascinating journey.

So, what exactly is a martini?

At the most simplistic level, it is a cocktail made from a blend of gin and vermouth, then garnished with an olive or lemon twist.

This description doesn’t do it nearly enough justice.

As this cocktail does not feature mixers, its contents must comprise good quality gin or vodka, and dry vermouth (though some recipes ask for sweet vermouth). Other important additions are bitters and (of course) your choice of garnish.

Large, pure and fresh ice cubes are also a must, so use filtered water in your tray and make them just ahead of time (allowing time to freeze, of course).

Now for the tricky bit, how to master a martini?

If you asked 100 martini enthusiasts you would probably get 100 different methods; dry, wet, dirty, stirred, shaken and so on.

To keep things simple, we’ll go with the method we’ve perfected here at the wildbrumby distillery.

First things first, ensure everything is chilled ahead of time, including your mixing glass, the martini glass, and all of your ingredients.

Then you can fill your mixing glass with lots of ice (big blocks work best) and drain any water before adding your gin and vermouth.

We use 6 parts gin/vodka and 1 part dry vermouth, and then a couple of dashes of bitter (orange bitter comes to mind).

Stir your drink for 15 turns to get it as cold as possible, (and add a little bit of water from the melting ice), then strain it into your chilled martini glass and garnish with your preferred garnish — our favourites are a green olive or a little twist of an organic lemon.

All that is left to do is to sit back, relax and enjoy your drink, preferably within 15-20 minutes while it is still icy cold.

Want to play with the ingredients?

For those who like to experiment a bit with different ingredients, there are a few ground rules you may like to consider.

While gin is generally the star of the martini show, not every gin will work in this cocktail.

There really is no place to hide in a martini because you won’t be adding tonic water or fruit juice, so it has to be of exceptional quality.

We recommend you stick with a good quality ‘London Dry’ style gin, which tends to lead on juniper and spice. A fruity gin, like a pink gin or sloe-gin just won’t cut it.

Vodka is sometimes used as an alternative to gin, and once again, quality is the watchword — so invest in a good one.

Now to the vermouth. Thankfully, there is a growing range of these available in Australia. Still, you want something that compliments the gin rather than overwhelms it and ideally, you would start with white vermouth.

Some recipes suggest you rinse the martini glass with vermouth and then tip the excess away. But rather than wasting it, we suggest you just use a little less. Someone put their time and passion into making it, so let’s be respectful.

The bitter is a crucial ingredient that elevates the martini with an extra layer of complexity, but it should only ever be used in moderation.

If you can’t find an orange bitter (which we recommend) then it is fine to roll with the more traditional Angostura bitters.

When it comes to the garnish, this really depends on your taste.

A green olive is a safe and traditional choice and we suggest you use the unstuffed variety stored in brine, not oil.

For those who would rather dodge the olive, a twist of organic lemon or orange is lovely, especially if you prefer a bit of zest.

A small sprig of rosemary or thyme are also good contenders, and a Gibson Martini asks for a cocktail onion.  So just play around and find out what works best for you and your choice of ingredients.

Shaken not stirred

Ian Fleming didn’t do us any favours when he decided James Bond would take his dry martini shaken, not stirred — given that most martinis are best when stirred, not shaken!

If you consider the Vesper recipe we associate with Bond (3 parts gin, 1 part vodka and 1/2 part Kina Lillet) then it is understandable given that shaking a drink breaks the ice into smaller pieces, watering down his rather potent mix.

Regardless, we still maintain that most martinis will benefit from a more mellow touch.

Should you drink it dry, wet or dirty?

Wet and dry martinis have exactly the same ingredients, what varies are the quantities. So, as a rule of thumb, the more vermouth in a martini, the wetter it gets.

For a dirty martini, you add a touch of the olive brine to give it a more distinct flavour. We’ve also been known to add some spent botanicals (from our gin still) to the brine for additional layers of complexity.

Now you know the ground rules for making the world’s most famous cocktail it is time to start experimenting for yourself. Here are some of our favourite recipes to get you started.

Sour Apple Martini

60ml Sour Apple Schnapps
30ml Kosciusko Vodka
Lemon twist

Add all your schnapps and vodka to an ice-filled mixing glass and stir until very cold. Strain into a chilled Martini glass and garnish with a twist of organic lemon.

Alpine Vesper

30ml Classic Gin
30ml Kosciusko Vodka
30ml Apricot Schnapps

Add gin, vodka and schnapps to an ice-filled cocktail shaker (I know earlier I said we don’t shake our martini but trust me on this one) and shake until cold, double strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with an orange twist.

(Courtesy of Philip Jones aka The Martini Whisperer)

Sour Cherry Martini

60ml Sour Cherry Schnapps (available seasonally)
30ml Kosciusko Vodka
Two dashes Morello Bitters
One cherry

Add your schnapps and vodka to an ice-filled mixing glass and stir until very cold. Strain into a chilled Martini glass and garnish with a fresh cherry.

Espresso Martini

45ml Coffee Liqueur (available seasonally)
30ml Kosciusko Vodka
One double shot Espresso
Coffee Beans to garnish

Add all your ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake until very cold, double strain through a fine sieve to get the silky finish on the top and garnish with a few coffee beans.

Enjoy!

It’s raspberry season! That means two things. Picnics with friends in the autumn sun and blushing pink glasses filled with schnappy, raspberry cocktails.

Each raspberry from our patch is plucked by hand in their prime from a ripe maroon harvest and turned into one of three things: a delightful non-alcoholic raspberry syrup, our famous Rubus Patch Gin, or — our scrumptious wildbrumby raspberry schnapps!

Our seasonal raspberry schnapps is sweet, tart and a little bit sassy. This vibrant berry has a knack for bringing excitement to any drink, which is why we keep an organically grown raspberry patch mere steps from our distillery door.

Filled to the brim with juicy raspberries, this schnapps is perfect to sip neat alongside a chocolate rich dessert or a selection of your favourite cheeses.

However, if we caught your attention at ‘blushing pink glasses filled with schnappy, raspberry cocktails’, we’ve got you covered. Here are four raspberry crazed cocktails you’ll want to try out and share with friends — or maybe just keep for yourself.

Raspberry Collins

Our Raspberry Collins recipe is a velvety, bubbly treat that boasts notes of vibrant berry and zesty lime. This is your no-fuss cocktail addition to an afternoon of friends and fruity cheese platters.

Ingredients:

30mL wildbrumby Raspberry schnapps
30mL Rubus Patch Gin

30mL Raspberry syrup

20ml fresh lime juice

Soda water

Method:
Add all your ingredients except the soda water to a big ice-filled glass. Give it a good stir with a bar spoon, then top with soda water. Garnish with mint, lime and fresh raspberries.

Alternatively, replace the raspberry syrup and lime juice with 15mL lemon juice and sugar syrup. Add a twist of lemon rind, and voila! You have a refreshing and Instagram-worthy cocktail in hand — thanks to the blushing hue of our raspberry schnapps.

Clover Club

Elegant, foamy and oh so tasty. The Clover Club has long been a drink associated with decadence and showmanship. Both our raspberry forward rubus patch gin and raspberry schnapps come together to create the ultimate pink drink.

Watch as this freshly shaken drink turns from a cloud of white to an exuberant pink in your glass!

If you’ve got a flashy Easter event planned this is the drink your guests will be talking about for days after.

Ingredients:
45mL wildbrumby raspberry schnapps
60mL wildbrumby rubus patch gin
20mL lemon juice
30mL chickpea Juice

Method:
Add all ingredients to an ice filled bar shaker. Shake thoroughly and strain into a chilled martini coup. Garnish with three raspberries on a cocktail pick or put your new lemon twist skills to good use.

Razzamatazz Gin Fizz

If you’re here for pink bubbly sips enjoyed whilst dancing in the afternoon sun — look no further! This picnic party drink is aptly named the razzmatazz gin fizz for its glitzy raspberry notes and a tart grapefruit bite.

Ingredients:
30mL wildbrumby raspberry schnapps
30mL wildbrumby classic gin
30mL grapefruit juice
soda water

Method:
Begin by filling a bar shaker with ice before adding all ingredients excluding the soda water. Shake thoroughly till the outside of your bar shaker is evenly frosted. Strain over ice into a highball glass and top with soda water.

Garnish with a half wheel of grapefruit and two fresh raspberries.

Madame Rouge

One sip of this boozy, raspberry milkshake and you’ll be wanting to serve it with a side of fresh scones.

The Madam Rouge is also a perfect dessert cocktail. So, leave the ice-cream in the fridge, pick up your bar shaker and show off your cocktail making skills!

Ingredients:
45mL wildbrumby raspberry schnapps
30mL wildbrumby rubus patch gin
30mL cream
2 teaspoons raspberry jam

Method:
Add all ingredients to your ice-filled bar shaker. Shake till thoroughly chilled and strain over ice into a martini glass. Garnish with two fresh raspberries.

And Enjoy!

wildbrumby seasonal products are available from our online shop or distillery door for limited periods only.

Take a walk on the wonderful side with this super-smooth favourite – butterscotch schnapps.

Without giving away all our secrets, our butterscotch schnapps has been a cocktail favourite since it hit the shelves for two simple reasons; a top-secret recipe of real butterscotch and our signature ingredient — pink lady apples.

Fruit is essential to creating authentic traditional schnapps and it is the addition of apples that brings that ‘home-cooked’ sweetness that butterscotch fans can’t get enough of.

And what’s the most popular way to drink this butterscotch treat? In a warm mug of spiked cappuccino, also known as the ‘Schnappychino’, or drizzled over a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. Yum!

But there’s so much more you can create with this popular variety of schnapps — especially when the weather turns cooler. So read on for some seasonal inspiration.

Butterscotch Mule

Move over simple syrup — the classic Moscow Mule just became a whole lot tastier with our butterscotch schnapps. This drink is the perfect balance between ginger zing and a depth of rich toffee, without becoming overly sweet. And the best part? You don’t need any fancy bar tools to enjoy it. Just build over ice in your favourite glass.If you’re a bit of a sweet tooth, try this recipe with 60mL of our butterscotch schnapps and remove the vodka. 

Ingredients:
40mL wildbrumby butterscotch schnapps
20mL wildbrumby Kosciuszko vodka
120mL ginger ale
fresh lime

How to make it:
Add our butterscotch schnapps and Kosciuszko vodka to an ice filled copper mug. If you don’t have a copper mug in your home bar, a chilled glass will work just as well.
Squeeze two quarter pieces of lime into the mug before adding the quarters to the drink. Pour in 120mL of ginger ale and stir before serving.

Winter Whiteout

This butterscotch duo is a fun winter favourite for snowsports enthusiasts that is ever-so-simple to put together in a shot glass and then share with a friend or five.

Ingredients: 
30mL butterscotch schnapps
20mL Irish Cream (eg Baileys)

How to make it:
Pour butterscotch schnapps into a shot glass until about 2/3 full.

Top up shot glass with Irish Cream by pouring slowly it over the back of a small spoon to keep it separated from the schnapps. 

*For a punchier variation, replace the Irish Cream with Spiced Rum to create a ‘Burt Reynolds’.

Butterscotch Delight

A delightful way to deliver our beautiful butterscotch schnapps.

And the best part is that it’s as easy as it sounds to create, with a sublimely smooth, velvety texture that accentuates its wonderfully rich butterscotch foundations.

Ingredients:
45mL wildbrumby Butterscotch Schnapps
30mL Kosciusko Vodka
45mL fresh cream

How to make it:
Add your Butterscotch Schnapps, Kosciuszko vodka and fresh cream to an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously until the outside of your shaker is frosted. Strain through a sieve into a coupé glass and garnish with a sprinkle of chocolate powder.

Kosi Colada

If you like piña coladas — but the slopes beat the beach any day, then this is the cocktail for you! This butterscotch twist on the tropical classic looks like a fresh powdering of snow and tastes like Christmas in July.

Ingredients:
60mL pineapple juice
40mL wildbrumby butterscotch schnapps
20mL wildbrumby Kosciuszko vodka
2 tbsp coconut cream
canned pineapple slices
brown sugar and ground cinnamon

How to make it:
Prepare your pineapple garnish by mixing a tablespoon of brown sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon in a bowl. Cut a pineapple slice in half and cover it in your sugar mixture. Lightly pan-fry the pineapple in butter for 1 minute each side. Allow time for your garnish to cool.

To make the cocktail, add pineapple juice, wildbrumby butterscotch schnapps and Kosciuszko vodka to an ice-filled bar shaker. Make sure to mix in the solids and liquids of your coconut cream before adding two tablespoons to your shaker. Shake vigorously to crush ice and create a smooth texture. You’ll know the cocktail is ready when frost forms on the outside of the tin. 

Pour contents of the bar shaker, including ice, into a tumbler glass. Garnish with a sugared half-slice of pineapple.

Liquid Apple-Butterscotch Pie

You might have seen us talk about this apple pie-inspired winter warmer before. It’s sweet, soul warming, and with an ample amount of our butterscotch schnapps you know we just had to include it in this list.

This recipe serves 4 friends, but with delicious toffee notes matched with cinnamon spice and apple sweetness — you’ll want a second serving all to yourself!

Better still, it’s low in alcohol volume. So, you can enjoy a little bit more after a long day on the slopes.

Ingredients:
400mL cinnamon tea
400mL sparkling apple juice
200mL wildbrumby butterscotch schnapps

How to make it:
Make the cinnamon tea by bringing 2 cups of water to a boil in a pot. Add 2 cinnamon sticks and allow the tea to simmer over a low heat for 10 minutes.

At the same time, heat 2 cups of sparkling apple juice in a separate pot and simmer till warm.

Once your cinnamon tea and sparkling apple juice are heated, add 100mL of each to a pre-heated mug and top with 50mL wildbrumby Butterscotch Schnapps. Repeat this step to achieve four serves and garnish each mug with a cinnamon stick.

You can find our wildbrumby butterscotch schnapps here.

Lady Butterscotch 

A steaming cup of hot chocolate has never been so luscious when you add these glorious additions (plus any/all of your favourite hot-choc toppings of course).

This one is best served warm while in the company of friends following an epic day on the mountain.

30mL butterscotch schnapps
20mL Irish Cream (eg Baileys)
200mL hot milk
1tsp hot chocolate powder (plus a little to sprinkle)
3tbsp whipped cream
1tbsp of mini marshmallows or other topping (optional)

How to make it:
Combine hot milk, Irish cream, butterscotch schnapps and 1 teaspoon of hot chocolate powder in a glass mug.

Top with whipped cream and a light sprinkle the remainder of chocolate powder sprinkled on top (plus mini marshmallows if you dare).

To purchase butterscotch schnapps and other wildbrumby spirits, visit our online shop here.