A recently launched, award-winning Australian gin has officially made its debut in the UK market. This innovative gin has been expertly distilled to ensure that both drinkers and non-drinkers can enjoy the same delightful experience.
Brunswick Aces holds the distinction of being the world’s first gin created in both alcohol-free and 40% ABV versions, now available through the UK drinks collective, Virtus Brands.
This remarkable gin is offered in three distinct varieties – Hearts, Diamonds, and Spades – each delivering a unique tasting experience characterized by warmth, freshness, and zesty citrus notes.
Hearts, for instance, brings warmth and richness to the palate. It features a perfect balance of cassia bark (cinnamon), cacao nibs, orange, and clove, complemented by star anise, native Australian wattleseed, and juniper.
On the other hand, Spades is savory and fresh, opening with notes of green cardamom and fresh herbs. This intriguing profile is perfectly balanced by sweet citrus, native Australian lemon myrtle, and Tasmanian pepperberry for an added kick of heat.
Diamonds presents a zesty and floral experience, led by notes of native desert lime and lemon. This refreshing mix is balanced with savory sage and juniper, rounded out by the earthy essence of angelica root.
The playing cards theme extends to the unique profile of the bottles, which feature another world-first innovation – an in-built jigger. This clever design eliminates the guesswork in free pouring, allowing drinkers to accurately measure ingredients in 15ml, 30ml, 45ml, or 60ml volumes.
Brunswick Aces originated in Melbourne in 2017, launched by five neighbors who frequently gathered for cocktails. However, when one friend became pregnant, the group faced a dilemma: how to include her in the experience.
To ensure she didn’t miss out, the friends decided to craft their own botanical gin using locally sourced Australian ingredients.
Notably, Brunswick refers to its zero alcohol gin as a ‘sapiir.’ This unique term describes the process that reduces the ABV from 80% to 40%, eschewing the conventional method of adding water.
This innovative approach, along with the gin’s creation process, has built a devoted following in Melbourne. Here, Brunswick Aces has become a staple at the Brunswick Aces bar, which proudly stands as Australia’s first non-alcoholic bar and where the gin is produced.
Gurdeep Dhaliwal, global sales director, stated: “Brunswick Aces grew out of a very common situation – why should people who don’t want to drink alcohol when they go out miss out on drinking the same flavoursome botanical gin their friends are enjoying?”
He added, “That approach started the Brunswick Aces story, and it’s become a huge phenomenon in Australia. I’m really happy to be working with Virtus Brands to bring it to the UK.”
Dhaliwal elaborated, “So far it’s had a great impact, whether enjoyed in a cocktail or with a simple mixer. People love the taste and the bottle, and they really appreciate the inbuilt jigger, which makes sure there is no excuse to get the quantities wrong.”
Baz Kooner, founder of Virtus Brands, remarked: “We’re very excited that Brunswick Aces has become the first zero alcoholic gin available through Virtus Brands.”
He continued, “It’s a real coup for us. Gurdeep and the team in Melbourne have genuinely viewed their product from the point of view of the gin drinker and created a range of botanicals that can genuinely be enjoyed by everyone.”
Kooner concluded, “We’ve all seen the rise of zero alcoholic gins and this has proven to be a game-changer in Australia. Their vision, plus the bottle and the clever pouring system means that Brunswick Aces are breaking new ground, and we’re extremely proud to bring them to the UK.”
