Inspired by a love of travel, the Far Reaches recipe incorporates 13 select botanicals from across the globe. The result is a delicious citrusy, floral expression of the classic London Dry Gin
FIVE KEY BOTANICALS, EACH FROM A DIFFERENT CONTINENT, ARE CENTRAL TO THE UNIQUE FLAVOUR: KUMQUAT FROM ASIA, JUNIPER FROM EUROPE, QUANDONG FROM AUSTRALIA, SARSAPARILLA FROM THE AMERICAS AND GRAINS OF PARADISE FROM AFRICA
The characteristic bitterness of the juniper is balanced by fresh kumquat notes – an unconventional take on regular citrus gins, which usually derive their flavour from orange, lemon or lime. Quandong and tangy sarsaparilla add a bittersweet edge, finished with warm, peppery spice from the grains of paradise
Kumquats
Kumquats are the fruit of the Citrus Japonica tree and are native to south Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. Far Reaches’ uses Nagami Kumquats from China, with only choice fruit that displays the required concentrated bitter-sweet flavours being used for distillation.
Random fact – The skin of the kumquat fruit is sweet, while its flesh is bitter (the opposite of an orange).
Sarsaparilla
We use wild sarsaparilla berries (aralia nudicaulis), which grow naturally in shaded forests throughout North America, as well as the root of the sarsaparilla vine (smilax ornata), from the rain forests of Mexico, to achieve a characteristic bitter sweet vanilla/caramel sarsaparilla taste profile, and to round off the citrus in our gin.
Random fact – Sarsaparilla has anti-inflammatory properties and used to be prescribed for a number of ailments including gout, arthritis, rheumatism, impotence, depression and venereal diseases!
Quandongs
The fruit of the Santalum acuminatum tree, Desert Quandongs have a unique flavour, a bit like that of a peach, but more bitter. Quandongs originate from the central deserts and southern areas of Australia and have been used for centuries by indigenous Australians for eating, cooking and as jewellery. Quandong fruit is high in Vitamin C and the nuts within the fruit have anti-bacterial properties.
Random fact – While filming Pirates of the Caribbean in Australia, Johnny Depp was given a jar of Desert Quandong jam by the local mayor where filming was taking place.
Juniper
Juniper berries (Juniperus Communis) are of course the main botanical in all gins and Far Reaches is no exception. Despite their many uses, juniper “berries” (actually a conifer cone, not a berry) are not cultivated commercially, but grow wild across various parts of Europe. We have sourced our juniper from a combination of Macedonia and Italy, to deliver the unique Far Reaches taste and aroma. The characteristic bitterness of the juniper berries marries perfectly with the zesty citrus notes and bitter sweet flavours of the quandongs.
Random fact – Although not known to have grown in Egypt, juniper berries were found in Tutankhamun's tomb.
Grains of paradise
Our aframomum melegueta hails from West Africa and is responsible for the spicy finish in Far Reaches’ flavour profile. A member of the ginger family, grains of paradise impart a peppery spiciness, with hints of citrus – the perfect complement to the citrus notes provided by the kumquats.
Random fact – In certain Nigerian cultures grains of paradise were used in divination customs and in rituals to determine guilt.