There’s something delightfully personal about hosting your own gin tasting. Whether you’re a casual fan or a full-blown juniper enthusiast, bringing friends together to explore different gins can turn an ordinary backyard hangout into a standout event. Inspired by the best gin bars in Melbourne, and building on what you might experience during a curated gin tasting in Melbourne, here’s how to host your own unforgettable tasting party at home.
Step 1: Curate Your Gin Line-Up
Start by selecting 4 to 6 gins that offer a diverse range of flavour profiles. Look for London Dry, New Wave botanical blends, barrel-aged expressions, and maybe even something citrus-forward or floral.
To replicate the quality of a gin tasting in Melbourne, include at least one locally made spirit from a reputable distillery. If you’ve ever been to a Brogans Way gin tasting, you’ll know how the use of Australian botanicals can completely change the game.
Step 2: Choose the Right Glassware
Forget red plastic cups. To get the most out of each gin, use stemmed wine glasses or traditional tasting glasses. The shape helps concentrate the aromas, essential for an authentic gin tasting experience.
Label each glass or use tasting mats so your guests can take notes and compare each sample. This adds a layer of structure to your event that mirrors what you might find at professional gin tasting in Melbourne venues.
Step 3: Prep Your Palate Cleansers and Garnishes
Cleanse the palate between tastings with plain crackers, still water, or slices of green apple. For a sensory twist, offer garnishes specific to each gin, like orange peel for citrusy gins or rosemary for herbaceous ones.
Many gin bars in Melbourne do this to highlight the botanicals and enhance the overall tasting journey.
Step 4: Plan the Tasting Order
Arrange the gins from lightest to boldest to prevent stronger flavours from overwhelming the more delicate ones. A typical gin tasting session starts with a classic dry gin and ends with more experimental or aged styles.
You can even mimic how it’s done at a gin tasting in Melbourne by offering a small pour of each neat, followed by a round served with tonic and garnish. This lets guests experience the full potential of each spirit.
Step 5: Add a Local Touch
To capture the essence of what you’d find at the top gin bars in Melbourne, consider including a quick introduction about each distillery and the ingredients they use, especially if they’re locally sourced.
Encourage guests to talk about their favourites and what flavour notes they picked up. Add a dash of trivia or a game inspired by Melbourne’s gin scene to keep the energy up.
Step 6: Serve a Signature Cocktail (or Two)
Once the formal tasting is done, keep the party going with a couple of simple gin-based cocktails. A classic G&T, a French 75, or even a Negroni works well.
Drawing inspiration from gin bars in Melbourne, you might even create a “house cocktail” using your favourite spirit from the tasting line-up. This adds a personal flourish your guests will love.
Step 7: Take It to the Next Level
Want to level up your backyard tasting? Partner with a local distillery for a private Brogans Way gin tasting kit or book a guided virtual session. Some distilleries and gin bars in Melbourne offer packages with tasting notes, glassware, and even live Zoom hosts for a hybrid experience.
Sip and Savour
Hosting a backyard gin tasting is a chance to explore the vibrant local spirit scene while creating memorable moments with your favourite people. Inspired by the energy and variety found in gin bars in Melbourne, and guided by the insight of a well-crafted gin tasting in Melbourne, you can bring all the sophistication and flavour of a night out straight into your backyard. Cheers to that.
