Koala Bare "Resting Beach Face" Modern Australian Gin Review

 

It used to be that my knee-jerk reaction to Gin was to throw up a little bit in my mouth. Gin was my Dad’s drink. He loved the stuff. Until two years ago, I avoided it like the plague. If brands sent me a Gin to try, I would immediately ask them if they wanted me to publish a review, because it wouldn’t be complimentary.

 

Two years ago, I discovered Genever. I’m not a fan of it, but it opened my eyes to Gin and Gin-adjacent spirits not having to taste like someone took a pine tree branch and asked me to eat it, needles and all.

 

Last year, I was a judge at a spirits competition and was seated at a Gin and Vodka table. I cringed. My opinion of Vodka is good Vodka must be tasteless and odorless, and mine of Gin was, well, we already talked about that.

 

I wound up learning a lot about both spirits that day. My preconceived notions were erased (mostly), and it was a real #DrinkCurious opportunity. Earlier this year, I was judging at another spirits competition and, guess what? They seated me at a Gin and Tequila table.

 

Why am I talking so much about Gin? Whelp, that’s the subject of today’s review. Specifically, I’ll be drinking Koala Bare Resting Beach Face Gin. It is distilled by Larrikin Bourbon Co. in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, and is labeled as a Modern Australian-Style Gin.

 

“Beach days, bare feet, and boards – is made for long afternoons by the water, sun on your skin, and the nights to follow. Bright, breezy, and crafted for the salty air, sandy feet, and days that run on sea breeze and bad decisions.” – Greg Keeley, USN (Ret) Distiller & Koala Whisperer

 

What is a Modern Australian-Style Gin? Without getting into too much detail, it offers distillers greater creative freedom than the classic London Dry. While Juniper is still a player, it is a team player, partnering with Australian native botanicals and fruits, as well as Asian spices, all of which highlight the island nation’s multicultural influences.

 

All of Larrikin’s Gins are made in this style. Resting Beach Face’s mashbill is grain, then Tasmanian pepperberry, lemon myrtle, salt bush, Australian native coriander, oyster shells, and sea parsley. It is 8 times distilled (which may not mean what you think it does), packaged at 42% ABV (84°), and a 750mL runs $40.00. It is an unaged Gin.

 

So, what does 8 times distilled mean? Yes, the base spirit was run through the still 8 times before the botanicals were infused. What it doesn’t mean is that it is somehow purer than running it fewer times. Modern stills will effectively remove impurities after 3 to 4 distillations. Anything beyond that is more about marketing than an indicator of quality.

 

What really matters with Gin isn’t the number of times it has been distilled; rather, it is how talented the distiller is at infusing and blending the botanicals.

 

So, now that we’ve had this long introduction, it is time to try Resting Beach Face. Larrikin Bourbon Co. was kind enough to send me a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Spirit Type: Australian Style Gin
• Distiller: Larrikin Bourbon Co.
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: Tasmanian pepperberry, lemon myrtle, salt bush, Australian native coriander, oyster shells, sea parsley, and grain
• Cooperage: Unaged
• Alcohol Content: 42% ABV (84°)
• Price per 750mL: $40.00

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this Gin neat. It was colorless with brilliant clarity. A super thin rim released tiny, sticky tears.

 

Nose: I waited 15 minutes before engaging with the aroma. While there was no juniper, that Tasmanian pepperberry made itself known. True to its name, it smelled spicy, floral, and sweet. There was a citrusy component, along with rosemary and thyme. When I pulled the air into my mouth, I found more Tasmanian pepperberry.

 

Palate: With the first sip, I encountered a thick, creamy texture and a big blast of salted vanilla. The second revealed an earthy taste on the front of my palate, while the mid-palate included notes of eucalyptus, red currants, and vanilla. The back featured black pepper.

 

Finish: Vanilla and black pepper competed for attention, and as time wore on, the pepper intensified. For whatever reason, the finish seemed to grow in aridness, eventually leaving my throat bone dry. The inside of my cheeks tasted as if they were dusted with Himalayan salt. That combination was unusual! The spice remained in the background. The duration lasted about 50 seconds.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Firstly, I give props to Larrikin for not doing the bare (pun intended) minimum 80° that many do. As I was contemplating the finish, I did smell what seemed like juniper, but it was subtle and unoffensive.

 

Secondly, I found Resting Beach Face easy to drink neat. It lacked bite or heat, and looking back at Greg’s description cited above. Yeah, I can imagine this being a Gin that would work well on the beach. The salinity, the dryness, it fits in with everything that I remember of my years growing up in South Florida. A Gin has earned my Bottle rating. Imagine that! Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.