Going caravanning? Create your own gin tasting experience on the road

There’s nothing like cruising the open road with your caravan in tow, seeing the gorgeous sights of Australia pass you by and relishing in your time away from reality. But, there’s something that could make the experience that much better this festive season as you enjoy perhaps your first taste of freedom since the coronavirus hit the country earlier this year.

To celebrate the upcoming summer holidays, the caravan and camping hiring platform Camplify and The Botanist Gin have partnered to launch Australia’s first ever dedicated ‘The Botanist Gin’ caravan. It’s considered the ultimate overnight accommodation experience, with travellers able to stay in a gorgeous refurbished vintage caravan nicknamed Mazzy the Van.

The van will be kitted out with a complimentary bottle of gin, tonic water and some other delicious treats to help travellers create a delicious cocktail and really relax during their time away from home. And there’s a sweet meaning behind the business as well, with the van named after owner Kate Kerr’s late mother who thoroughly enjoyed a drink of gin. 

“Mazzy loved camping, she loved the outdoors, she loved swims in the ocean as much as bush walks, she loved a sausage sizzle for lunch and gin at night. Mazzy is a tribute to our mum and her love for adventures and a gin at the end of the day.”

But, if you’ve got a caravan of your own you can actually replicate this with a selection of delicious gins from the beautiful Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia. It would be the perfect way to treat yourself, while also supporting the community of Kangaroo Island which was hit hard by the bushfires at the beginning of the year.

Kangaroo Island Spirits is a family owned and operated craft gin distillery situated on the gorgeous island. Although relatively new, having launched less than 20 years ago, the business is the winner of multiple global awards including the best contemporary gin.

So, what is it that makes it so special? Well the gins are predominantly juniper flavoured, but owners Jon and Sarah Lark have added their own spin to their drinks, working their magic to produce unique and delicious tasting gins.

At the beginning of their gin-making journey they visited Sipsmith in Hammersmith, London where they gathered ideas on how they too could create a successful business. And from there Kangaroo Island Spirits was born, with the pair developing the perfect balance of flavours to tickle tastebuds.

There’s the Wild Gin with hints of lime, mint and pink pepper corns, the O’Gin with highlights of coriander, angelica root, coastal daisy bush and orange and the Wally Wild Gin which has combined warming notes of honey and musk, with the crisp, spicy notes of gingerbread.

All of these mouth-watering gins and more can be purchased on the Starts at 60 Marketplace, along with other spirits from the business such as vodka, limoncello and kaffircello which has a spicy addition of chilli. Or, if you’re stuck on which one to pick there’s even some tasting packs which include three 200ml bottles of different gins to try.

A drink or two of gin from the award-winning business could be just what you need to create the ultimate holiday after an uncertain and stressful year! Plus, it would a great present for a gin-loving friend or family member.