Naught Gin is a small Australian distillery based in Eltham on Melbourne's north-eastern fringe, with a quietly serious reputation for fruit-forward, contemporary Australian gins. The Sangiovese expression takes the brand's award-winning Australian Contemporary Dry Gin and infuses it with hand-picked Sangiovese grapes from the Yarra Valley, delivered as a deep rose-coloured gin that drinks more like a serious spirit than a flavoured curiosity.
The nose opens with bright juniper backed by ripe cherry and soft earthy tones, leading into a vibrant palate of raspberry, cherry and delicate strawberry, with layers of dark chocolate, orange and warm cinnamon unfolding as the glass opens. The finish lingers long with sweet spice and a silky, almost full-bodied mouthfeel, designed to remain firmly gin-forward with the Sangiovese sitting as a background glow rather than the headline act.
A natural fit for an after-dinner pour over a single large rock with an orange twist, or built into a cherry-laced Negroni in place of standard dry gin. Awarded 98 out of 100 at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London, a strong nod to the craft behind the bottle.