Gin Palace to host seven Aussie distilleries at ‘Scents of Place’ series

For the first time in 20 years, Melbourne institution the Gin Palace will be open for lunch.

Hosting seven different distilleries across seven events throughout winter, ‘Scents of Place’ will see some of Australia’s top gin makers descend upon Gin Palace for a celebration of all things juniper.

For each of the lunches, guests will be greeted with a G&T on arrival and enjoy a meet-and-greet with the makers behind the featured gin. This will follow through to a three-course lunch matched with three cocktails.

A kitchen of the distillery’s choosing will be plating the meals, while the Gin Palace bartenders will complement each course with a signature drink. After plates are cleared, attendees can enjoy a cocktail workshop and will leave with their very own goody bag.

Kicking off the lunch series on Saturday 2 June is Tasmania’s Southern Wild Distillery with its Dasher + Fisher gins, recently awarded Best Distiller at the Tasting Australia Spirit Awards.

According to Gin Palace’s managing director Benjamin Luzz, the theme for each of the lunches is left up to the interpretation of the distillery; some meals will feature botanicals found in the representative gins, others will feature locally foraged wholefoods – but always with the gin and the place held front of mind.

“The famous juniper-heavy gins of London and abroad have long earned an unwavering spot in our hearts,” says Luzz.

“Australian gins, however, open doors to realms of flavour that other countries simply cannot access; and it’s our unique environment that serves as the key.

“From the depths of Queensland’s tropical rainforest, to the reaches of Tasmania’s cool highlands, Australia exhibits a multitude of distinct landscapes now able to be experienced through gin. This is something to be proud of; something worth celebrating.”

For further information about any of the events, visit the Scents of Place website (http://www.scentsofplace.com.au/)

Dates and distilleries

 Tickets available now

• Saturday 2 June – Dasher + Fisher
• Saturday 16 June – Alchemy
• Saturday 30 June – Animus

Tickets released June

• Saturday 14 July – Archie Rose
• Saturday 28 July – Patient Wolf

Tickets released July

• Saturday 11 August – Melbourne Gin Company
• Saturday 25 August – Anther