There is something satisfying about making a good cocktail at home. Not the kind of thing that needs fifteen ingredients and a chemistry degree, but a simple drink made well, with spirits you actually trust. That is what the Wildstreak Distillery range was built for.
We distil everything on site at our cellar door in Pokolbin, using locally sourced botanicals and real ingredients from the Hunter Valley and NSW. Our gins, vodka and limoncello are designed to shine in a glass, whether you are mixing a G&T on the back deck or putting together something more considered for dinner guests.
Here are five cocktails we love, each built around a different Wildstreak spirit. No special equipment needed, no obscure ingredients. Just good drinks with good bottles.
1. The Lemon Myrtle G&T (Australian Dry Gin)
Our Australian Dry Gin is built around locally sourced citrus and lemon myrtle, with grapefruit, lime and tangelos lifting the nose and creamy macadamia smoothing out the finish. It is bright, aromatic and distinctly Australian.
You will need: 45ml Australian Dry Gin, premium tonic water, ice, a slice of fresh grapefruit or a sprig of lemon myrtle.
Method: Fill a glass with ice. Pour in the gin, top with tonic. Give it one gentle stir. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge or, if you can find it, a fresh lemon myrtle leaf. The citrus botanicals in the gin do most of the work here, so keep the tonic simple and let it sing.
Pairs well with: A cheese platter on the verandah, or alongside our Wildstreak Kitchen pizzas from our kitchen if you are visiting.
2. The Juniper Martini (Classic Dry Gin)
Where the Australian Dry Gin leans into citrus, our Classic Dry Gin is juniper forward with a rich tapestry of aromatic botanicals. It is bold, balanced and smooth, the kind of gin that works best when you let it take centre stage.
You will need: 60ml Classic Dry Gin, 15ml dry vermouth, ice, a lemon twist or green olive.
Method: Stir the gin and vermouth together with plenty of ice for about 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled glass. Express the oils from a strip of lemon peel over the surface, or drop in an olive if you prefer it savoury. This is a proper martini, not a sugary cocktail. The juniper base carries it.
Pairs well with: Oysters, smoked salmon, or any of the share plates from our cellar door kitchen.
3. The Rosé Spritz (Australian Rosé Gin)
Our Australian Rosé Gin blends soft, delicate rose petals with ripe summer berries for something lighter and more floral than a traditional dry gin. It is versatile enough to sip on its own over ice, but it really comes alive in a spritz.
You will need: 30ml Australian Rosé Gin, 90ml Wildstreak Sparkling Semillon Chardonnay, a splash of soda water, ice, fresh berries or a lemon wheel.
Method: Build it in a large wine glass over ice. Pour in the gin first, then the sparkling, then a small splash of soda. Drop in a few fresh raspberries or strawberries. The berry notes in the gin complement the sparkling beautifully, making this one of the easiest crowd pleasers in the range.
Pairs well with: Weekend lunch in the sun. Brilliant alongside our Wildstreak Rosé if you want to offer guests a choice of pink drinks.
4. The Vanilla Espresso Martini (Small Batch Vodka)
Our Small Batch Vodka is triple distilled with a whisper of vanilla, making it crisp and clean but not flavourless. That subtle vanilla character is exactly what lifts an espresso martini from ordinary to something special.
You will need: 45ml Small Batch Vodka, 30ml freshly brewed espresso (cooled), 15ml coffee liqueur, ice, three coffee beans to garnish.
Method: Add the vodka, espresso and coffee liqueur to a shaker with ice. Shake hard for about 15 seconds until properly cold and frothy. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and float three coffee beans on the surface. The vanilla in the vodka rounds out the bitterness of the coffee. Dangerously easy to drink.
Pairs well with: After dinner, full stop. Or alongside a slice of chocolate cake if you are feeling indulgent.
5. The Limoncello Spritz (Australian Limoncello)
Made from locally grown lemons from the mountain ranges of the NSW Central Coast, our Australian Limoncello is bright, aromatic and genuinely refreshing. It sits at 30% ABV, lighter than the gins, which makes it ideal for spritzy pre-dinner drinks or a relaxed after-dinner sip.
You will need: 45ml Australian Limoncello, 90ml Wildstreak Sparkling Semillon Chardonnay, a splash of soda water, ice, a sprig of fresh mint or a thin lemon wheel.
Method: Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour in the limoncello, then the sparkling, then a splash of soda. Garnish with mint or lemon. This is Italy via the Central Coast, and it works brilliantly on a warm autumn afternoon. Keep a bottle in the freezer so it pours ice cold.
Pairs well with: Antipasto, grilled seafood, or just a quiet moment at the end of a long day.
Take the Range Home
If you want to try the gins side by side, our Wildstreak Gin 3 Pack ($199, saving $26) includes the Australian Dry, Classic Dry and Rosé Gin. It is also worth knowing that Wine Club members receive 20% off all spirits and dining, plus 30% off wine and free shipping. If you are already stocking up on Peter Drayton wines, joining the club makes the spirits considerably more affordable too.
All of these spirits are available to taste and purchase at our cellar door at 694 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin. We are open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. If you are in the Hunter Valley, stop in and we will walk you through the range. Sometimes the best cocktail is one someone else makes for you.
