Brookie’s Byron Gin is becoming available in the UK for the very first time, thanks to a new partnership with the high-end supermarket chain Waitrose. Containing 25 botanicals – many sourced from the Byron Bay rainforest – the sustainable brand hits shelves up and down the country, introducing this acclaimed super-premium spirit to British homes.
From the hinterland of Byron Bay
Brookie’s distillery is family-owned and run, based on the Brook’s own farm in Cape Byron, on the edge of Byron Bay. With a strong commitment to minimising environmental impact, the family have been replanting the local rainforest. Over the course of the last 30 years, this has amounted to the regeneration of over 40,000 subtropical trees. This led to the brand being recognised in 2020 as ’Sustainable Distillery of the Year’.
Sourced from the harvest of the rainforest
The unique flavours that identify Brookie’s Gin come from the use of natural ingredients and botanicals indigenous to the exotic local flora and fauna. Renowned master distiller Jim McEwan and co-founder Eddie Brook sourced 25 botanicals for the creation of this dry gin – 17 of which are native to the Byron Bay Region, including Byron sunrise finger limes, aniseed myrtle, cinnamon myrtle, macadamia, native river mint and native raspberry.
A taste of Australia
A tipple of Byron Dry Gin opens on tangy citrus notes. The nose is then led by the botanicals of aniseed, cinnamon myrtle, finger and blood limes, juniper, coriander and a hint of white aspen. On the first sip, there’s a noticeable flavour of liquorice, aniseed and wild native ginger, followed by bright raspberry and the delicious contrast of macadamia nut from the farm’s own orchard.
Read our guide to our favourite gins
Bringing Brookie’s Gin to Waitrose customers
Eddie Brook said of the new collaboration:
“Sustainability, giving back to the community, and rainforest regeneration are at the heart of what we do at Cape Byron Distillery. We’re so passionate about the quality of our Byron Dry Gin which is made with incredible native ingredients that grow in our regenerated rainforest on the farm. We are over the moon to be launching Brookie’s into Waitrose and introducing our Byron Dry Gin to their customer base.”
700ml bottles are available to purchase in-store and online through Waitrose Cellar for £39.95 each. To find out more about the brand, visit www.capebyrondistillery.com.
