In January last year the Seadrift Distillery launched with Seadrift Classic, a non-alcoholic white spirit that was created to work with Australian cuisine and reflect our environment.
While that has gone very well and been largely well-received a continual feedback for Founders Carolyn and Alastair Whiteley was ‘this doesn’t taste like gin’. So the pair set about creating Seadrift Coast; a fresh non-alcoholic white spirit that better reflected the taste and style people are more accustomed to.
“With Seadrift Classic we wanted to create a drink that people would taste for its own taste, it’s not meant to be a gin replacement,” Carolyn told Bars and Clubs. “There are plenty of people who don’t drink gin but want a white spirit without alcohol, so Classic is not meant to be a gin.
“But we got a lot of feedback with people saying ‘it doesn’t taste like gin’ and communicating that it’s not meant to, became very tricky.”
She added: “So we now have the second drink in the range, Seadrift Coast, which does have juniper in it and it is much more similar to gin and it’s more on an entry level product. Seadrift Classic you could say requires a more developed palate and appreciation of different flavour profiles, whereas Seadrift Coast is more familiar flavours.
“Fresh torn basil leaves are the key ingredient and then we have juniper and a few other herbs behind it. This does two things, the juniper is that familiar flavour and the basil brings a natural sweetness, because we don’t use any sugars in any of our products.”
With Seadrift Coast delivering more familiar gin-like flavours, Carolyn said it can be used as you would a gin, but it can also go further.
“It can be used in any of the classic gin styles and occasion. It’s very much the first drink of the night, but interestingly you can extend the range into non-alcoholic breakfast cocktails. Seadrift Classic does a beautiful Virgin Mary, and because these drinks have been designed to go with food, they are not just aperitifs they are drinks that can be enjoyed with meals as well.
“We recommend absolutely with tonic, but really any carbonated drink works well, it’s the carbonation that really releases the flavour profiles.”
That aspect of being a drink that works with food was one of the keys for Carolyn and Alastair as they worked on developing the processes and recipes for their spirits.
“We loved the concept of Seedlip and we like the flavour because it’s quite English, but it doesn’t really go with Australian cuisine and the lifestyle that we have,” she told Bars and Clubs.
“So we wanted to come up with something that was more Australian in its flavour and that reflected our environment, the type of food we eat and went with salad and seafood and we really wanted to capture that within the drink.
“There was a couple of years in development and in particular getting the process right. The process we use is quite unique, we only use fresh herbs within our distillation and we use a traditional copper pot still process that is very similar to what is used in single malt whisky.
“We work on much smaller batches than other people and this is why we can use fresh herbs – if you use them in larger batches then they can stew. We work on size and pressure and a few other things to ensure we are getting the maximum out of the herbs.”
With the processes in place the development of Seadrift Coast was all down to recipe and while it took some time to get right, the pair are very happy with the final product.
“Seadrift Coast is an ode to our stunning Northern Beaches and a celebration of the distillers along the Thames in London, where London dry gin was born. It brings together the fresh crisp flavours of the beaches, with juniper berries the core ingredient in traditional London gins,” Alastair said.
“I am a huge fan of basil and juniper so I absolutely love this drink. To me it’s even better than gin. I can’t wait for people to try it.
“There are many ways you can enjoy Coast,” he adds. “But my favourite is over ice with your favourite tonic water and a fresh sprig of basil. The basil is naturally sweet so it just brings forth those notes. This refreshing drink, is the perfect Sydney sundowner that’s refreshing and will leaving you feeling just as fresh the next day. So, be that little bit kinder to yourself and try Seadrift Coast.”
As with so many people and businesses the pandemic meant 2020 was a very tough year and saw the plans the pair had for the launch of Seadrift completely flipped. But with the drinks now ranged in a range of bars and restaurants Carolyn said they will now focus on what they really want for the brand.
“We want to be Australia’s Seedlip,” she said. “Very much local, supporting our local business, supporting our local economy, using fresh ingredients, continually improving our process and really be known for the quality of the product that we are producing.”
Seadrift Coast is available for purchase via the Seadrift Distillery online store or online at SansDrinks.
