Want to sip smarter?
A barefoot field guide to Australian gin — created by a working distiller, for people who want more than tasting notes.
What this guide is really about?
This field guide was created for people who want to understand gin better.
Not in a technical, intimidating way. And not through flowery tasting notes that don’t mean much once the glass is empty.
Instead, it offers context.
You don't need formal knowledge.
Just curiosity.
Inside the Australian Gin Drinkers Field Guide
- What actually makes gin, gin — and why juniper matters
- How distillers think about flavour (and what never makes it onto the label)
- The role botanicals play, from citrus and spice to native Australian plants
- Why Australian gin is gaining global attention
- How to identify your preferred gin styles — without overthinking it
- How to taste gin at home, simply and confidently
- How to host a relaxed gin tasting with friends
No rules. No jargon. Just practical insight you can use.
Written by a distiller, not a marketing team
This guide was written by James, co-founder and head distiller at Esperance Distillery.
After years of explaining gin to customers — from first-timers to seasoned drinkers — James noticed the same questions coming up again and again. Not what should I taste? but why does this taste like this?
This guide is his way of answering those questions properly.
It’s shaped by real distilling decisions, real botanicals, and real conversations — with the help of our team, and yes, a little structure from ChatGPT. But every insight comes from the distillery floor, not an algorithm.
Inside the guide, you’ll also find a short video where James walks through the distilling process — from neutral spirit to finished bottle — filmed inside our Esperance distillery.
It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how flavour is built, and why small decisions matter.
What happens next
When you enter your email, we’ll send the guide straight to your inbox.
You’ll also receive a short, free email series that builds on the guide — sharing practical ideas around:
- choosing gins you’ll genuinely enjoy
- tasting and mixing with confidence
- getting more out of the bottles you already own
No spam. No pressure. Just thoughtful gin education you can dip into at your own pace.
If you enjoy the guide, you’ll also be invited to explore our online gin tasting experience — a guided way to put everything into practice from home.
For now, this is simply a place to start sipping smarter.