Nobody warns you that a gin tasting is mostly just three small glasses, one very good afternoon, and a quiet realisation that you've been drinking gin wrong your entire life.
If you've never done a gin tasting experience before, you might be picturing swirling, sniffing and someone in a waistcoat saying "notes of regret." Relax. It's nothing like that. At our cellar door in Sevenhill, South Australia, a gin tasting is a friendly, slightly nosy conversation between you and a glass. We just help you listen.
Here's how it works, what to look for, and how to make the most of every little pour.
What actually happens at a gin tasting?
Short version: you sit down, we pour, you sip, you chat, you decide which one comes home with you.
Our tasting flight is $25 and gets you 20ml each of three gins: Signature, Navy Strength and Bramble. Each comes with Long Rays tonic or soda alongside, so you can taste the gin on its own and then see how it behaves with a mixer. (More on why that matters in a moment.)
20ml sounds small, and it is. That's the point. It's enough to taste properly without losing the plot, which is handy when there's a wood-fired pizza heading your way.
Why a gin flight beats a single G&T
Order a single gin and tonic and you get one flavour story. Order a gin flight and you get a comparison, and comparison is where your palate wakes up.
Taste Signature, then Navy Strength, and suddenly you can tell what "juniper-forward" means, because you've just met a gin that isn't. Taste Bramble after them and you finally understand why blackberries and gin are such good mates.
That's the secret nobody tells you: you don't need a vocabulary to taste gin. You need a contrast.
How to taste gin: five easy steps
You don't need a certificate. You need about five minutes per glass.
- 1. Look - hold it up to the light. Most gins are clear, but Bramble will show you a soft blush from the blackberries. Let your eyes get a head start.
- 2. Smell, gently - don't plunge your nose in like you're sniffing a rose bush. Hover over the glass and take a soft inhale, mouth slightly open. Strong spirit can sting the nose, so ease in. What jumps out first? Pine? Citrus? Something floral?
- 3. Sip small - let it sit on your tongue for a moment before swallowing. Roll it around. Juniper tends to arrive first, then the other botanicals step in one by one, like guests arriving at a barbecue.
- 4. Name one thing - not ten. One. "Lemony." "Peppery." "Sort of like a forest after rain." Any word is a right word.
- 5. Add a splash - now add a little water, or taste it with tonic. A few drops of water can open up a gin and release flavours that were hiding. It's the same gin, and it's quietly become a different one.
What you're tasting for: our Australian botanicals
This is where a Clare Valley gin gets interesting. Instead of leaning only on the classic European line-up, our gins use Australian native botanicals, so there's a lot of new territory for your tastebuds.
Keep an eye out for:
- Lemon myrtle: bright, zesty, a bit like lemon sherbet dressed up for the bush.
- Pepperberry: a slow, warm tingle that sneaks up on the back of your tongue.
- Strawberry gum: soft, sweet and almost jammy, a surprising little rascal.
- Geraldton wax: delicate and floral, with a citrus lift.
- Juniper: still the backbone, because it's gin, after all.
Fancy going deeper? Our guide to native botanicals in Australian gin walks through each one →
Meet the flight
Signature Gin ($80 per 700ml): the dependable one
Silver Award winner. Light, floral and balanced, with lemon myrtle and strawberry gum doing the pretty work. This is your "start here" gin: friendly, easy and gorgeous with a good tonic and a twist of citrus.
Navy Strength Gin ($95 per 700ml): the bold one
Higher proof, bigger personality. Expect cardamom, cassia, star anise and ginger bringing a spicy warmth. Don't let the strength scare you off. A little water or tonic takes the edge off and shows you the layers underneath.
Bramble Gin ($85 per 700ml): the crowd-pleaser
Another Silver Award winner and our bestseller by a long way. It's our Signature base with blackberries and lemon zest, fruity without being sweet. If you only remember one gin from your visit, odds are it's this one.
Gin masterclass: when you want to go deeper
If a flight is the friendly introduction, a gin masterclass is the full conversation. We run gin masterclasses and detailed tastings for groups, which is a popular option for birthdays, hens' days, work outings and curious friends.
You'll learn how botanicals shape flavour, how to taste with confidence, and why the same gin can behave so differently in a glass of tonic versus a cocktail. Then you get to put it into practice.
Coming up from the city? If you're searching for a gin masterclass Adelaide way, the Clare Valley is 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes from Adelaide, depending on how you drive it, and it's a very good reason to turn a Saturday into a proper day out.
Things to do in the Clare Valley: a local's guide →
Tips to get the most out of your gin tasting experience
- Eat something first. Or, better yet, plan on our wood-fired pizza straight after. Three Little Birds Kitchen has the 5-star Google reviews to prove it.
- Go slow. Nobody's timing you. A flight can happily last an hour.
- Sip water between gins. It resets your palate.
- Ask questions. Our team knows these gins inside out, and the best tastings turn into chats.
- Say what you like (and don't). "Too sweet" and "I want more spice" are brilliant instructions. We'll point you to the right bottle.
- Bring a friend with different tastes. Swap glasses. It's the fastest way to learn what you like.
- Take a note. A quick phone note on your favourite saves you guessing at the bottle shop later.
Make a day of it on Jeanneret Road
The best part about doing your gin tasting in Sevenhill is what's around it. Our cellar door sits on Jeanneret Rd alongside Jeanneret Wines and Clare Valley Brewing, so you can taste gin, wine and beer without moving the car much.
On Sundays, Low & Slow Sundays brings smoked meats from midday. Gin, then smoke, then a long afternoon, which is a hard schedule to argue with.
Low & Slow Sundays: smoke, gin and three sheds on Jeanneret Road →
Planning your trip? Our Visit Sevenhill page has everything you need.
Ready to taste?
Come see us at 22 Jeanneret Rd, Sevenhill, Clare Valley, South Australia.
Our opening hours:
- Thursday: 11am - 5pm
- Friday: 11am - 8:30pm
- Saturday: 11am - 5pm
- Sunday: 11am - 5pm
Walk-ins are welcome, but if you're coming with a group or want a masterclass, it's worth booking ahead.
Questions? Ring us on 0437 352 645.