SA-made Ginscato – a gin and moscato hybrid – is ready for summer debut
AN 18-month effort to marry the bold flavours of gin and moscato has created South Australia’s newest bottled drink that its makers claim has “summer written all over it”.
- Expert advice: SA Drinks Guide
- SA: Leading the way with craft beers and spirits
- Economy: Craft beer boom
AN 18-month effort to marry the bold flavours of gin and moscato has created South Australia’s newest bottled drink that its makers claim has “summer written all over it”.
The nation’s first ready-to-drink Ginscato has been developed by Dan Khouzam, the managing director of Signature Wines, and Will Simpson as part of a new business, Bhunta Group.
One of SA’s best loved wineries, Wirra Wirra has supplied the Adelaide Hills moscato, which is mixed with gin made by Imperial Measures Distilling, which also makes Ounce Gin.
The “crazy idea” to blend wine and spirit is a move by Dan and Will to capture a share of the booming craft drinks market in Australia, they said.
“We know that gin’s just taking off with moscato also having its share of backers,” Mr Khouzam told The Advertiser.
“We wanted to create a summer drink to revolutionise the ready-to-drink category through a combination of class, convenience and great taste,” he said.
Will said he expected the drink was likely to find favour with both men and women and would be a hit over summer.
“From our soft launches at events, we know it’s making summer more exciting for a lot of people. It’s got summer written all over it,” he said.
Ginscato is the first of many exciting products planned under the Bhunta banner — an Australian slang term also representing other “crazy” ideas that the duo plan to trial.
Ginscato taste tester Rebecca Warden said the new drink was refreshing and less sweeter than moscato.
The drink can be bought at King Street Cellars at Norwood but discussions are ongoing with independent retailers in SA. The makers are also in talks with a Victorian pub to launch it in that state and the drink will be available at Adelaide Oval’s Bodyline Bar during the Adelaide Strikers matches. Wirra Wirra are sponsors of Adelaide Strikers.
HOW IT TASTES
The Advertiser’s reviewers Simon Wilkinson and Natalie de Nadai tried the new Ginscato with the following results:
SIMON WILKINSON
The attraction of gin-based drinks is the spirit’s inherent bitterness, along with its distinct juniper tones. This pale pink beverage is all about disguising that side of gin by drowning it in sweetness and fruit essences. Poured over lime as suggested, the drink has a smell of berry flavoured lollies, with a more medicinal undertone. To drink, the alcohol content is immediately obvious, giving way to artificial fruit flavours that linger long after the last sip. Ick!
NATALIE de NADAI
I’m a sweet tooth so I like a glass of Moscato when I’m out. Crack open this bottle and you get a fragrant aroma similar to the non-alcoholic Appletiser sparkling juice. It’s very sweet yet refreshing and fruity but I couldn’t taste the gin. After a few sips, which is probably enough, I could already predict that if I continue I would be in for a tipsy afternoon.