To mark ten years since the opening of its very first venue, Lotus Dining Group is launching
its own premium Mandarin Gin in collaboration with artisanal Canberra distillery, Big River
Distilling Co.
Distilled in a New World gin style, Mandarin Gin’s dominant flavour is fresh Australian
mandarin peel which marries perfectly to the five spices of Chinese cuisine: szechuan
pepper, star anise, fennel, cinnamon and clove – that round out the blend.
Lotus’ Group Beverage Manager Matthew Stewart, Group Head Chef Steve Wu and Group
Sommelier Karen Dollimore worked closely with Big River Distilling Co.’s Chief Beverage
Engineer Clyde Morton to ensure the finished product would both complement and enhance
the Lotus dining experience.
Identifying a shared passion for quality ingredients and innovative cuisine, Lotus Dining
Group approached Big River Distilling Co. to partner on its first spirits endeavour. Over the
course of six months, the teams tested, sampled and scaled what would eventually become
the finished product.
Big River Distilling Co. Chief Beverage Engineer Clyde Morton said the process was deeply
involved from both sides: “Lotus Dining Group came to us with a clear vision to create a
unique Chinese-inspired gin to serve at their seven Sydney venues. Aromas can be quite
evocative – when I tasted the first batch I pictured myself standing in a Chinese kitchen. The
Lotus team came down to our distillery to work through options for botanicals, then sample
the results of the Mandarin Gin’s small-scale trials before producing the full volume.”
Mandarin Gin will be poured exclusively at all seven Lotus Dining Group venues across
Sydney. Providoor customers can also order Lotus Dining Group’s Mandarin Gin for $88 per
bottle order at: https://sydney.providoor.com.au/s/-/lotus
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