Last night my friend Staci and I opened and sampled Kazuki gin from Sheringham Distillers in BC. It won big at the 2020 Artisan Distillers Canada Competition. Today I’m using the last of the summer watermelon to test it in a cocktail.
Kazuki gin is a great way to start off this blog if we are moving from West to East across Canada. Coming from Sheringham Distillery on Vancouver Island. Staci and I quickly noted all the light spice in the nose of the Kazuki Gin and strong floral notes, all balanced and tied together by the citrus. The juniper is “delicate” as they say on the bottle, but it grounds the other lighter notes.
Kazuki not only took the top prize, it won Best in Class Contemporary Gin, an award for Excellence in Terroir (expressing its place), and a Distinction, indicating that this year’s product is as good or better than last year’s.
The Kazuki gin is super interesting with its pan-Pacific palate although, for me, this gin may be a bit floral to sip on its own. Today seemed perfect to try with the last of the local watermelon. It’s dynamite.
Below is how I downscaled the recipe to make 1 drink from Monica Stevens Le at The Movement Menu, and upped the gin because of the delicacy of Kazuki. Its creamy finish is great with all the light fresh flavours, and the result is a great tall cocktail and, given the 2oz of gin, you could split it between two.
When and if you have good access to good watermelon, I imagine this can scale beautifully to a punch — make it non-alcholic so that people have a choice, but then offer it with the gin option. Show the nice bottle so that people can appreciate it all.
Watermelon Gin smash
Serves 1-2
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh watermelon cubed
- 8 fresh mint leaves
- 4 fresh cucumber slices about 1/2″ thick
- 3/4 ounces simple syrup
- 2 ounces Kazuki gin
Instructions
- Blend watermelon chunks on high for about 30 seconds until smooth throughout. Pour through a mesh sieve into a large glass. Set aside.
- Muddle together mint leaves, cucumber, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
- Add gin, 1 cup of watermelon juice, and a small handful of ice cubes. Stir well.
- Pour cocktail over fresh ice in a glass. Garnish with fresh cucumber slices and mint sprigs.
Gin Social 