7K's Aqua Vitae Gin
About 7K Distillery
According to Tyler Clark, the brains (and hands) behind 7K distillery, the name 7K is a play on the area code of Tasmania. For Tyler the name reflects the spirit of Tasmania (the land of the 7000’s) and the botanicals that he and his staff forage locally for to produce their spirits.
The story began in 2014 when Tyler got a glimpse of the whisky industry during a weekend away with the founders of the Lark, Sullivans Cove, Hellyers Road and Overeem distilleries. This was the push the former electrician needed to follow his dream. With a passion for whisky and building things, he set about creating something unique that could impact the Tasmania spirits industry.
In late 2016, Tyler met Harry Foster, an enthusiastic 22-year-old cocktail bartender with the same obsessive passion for spirits and alcohol. The two men combined specialities, and in 2017, Tyler built the 1,100L custom still that is in use today. At 7K, there is a strong emphasis on sustainability, environmental consciousness, and waste minimisation, one of the reasons Tyler built his initial distillery from transformed shipping containers!
The distillery’s original location was 25 mins north of Hobart on Brighton’s outskirts. After the first year, Tyler needed to add a second shipping container, shortly followed by a third. Such is the rise and growth of 7K distillery and its gin production, rather than moving the shipping containers to a larger site, Tyler has moved the 7K distillery to a larger warehouse just 10 mins from Hobart CBD. As for the shipping containers, as an innovator and someone who cares for sustainability, Tyler is naturally turning them into a house!
7K Distiller Tyler Clark
Tyler is continually innovating and perfecting his designs, from tinkering with his still and distilling process, to bottle design and labeling. Next up is the bottle cap where he’s moving to a cork finish to add more of that natural feel and class to the bottles (some of you will have been lucky enough to find one in your box!).
His vision for the future includes new, unique locations with their very own stills. With new distilleries will come fresh product ideas and interesting experiences for customers; including spaces where people can learn about, and then pick their own botanicals to create a personalised gin. For the 7K team, it’s all about creating a unique experience and as Tyler aptly puts it “a more wholesome gin experience”.
About Aqua Vitae Modern Tasmanian Gin
The Aqua Vitae Modern Gin is as natural and unique as it gets. Translating from old Latin, Aqua vitae means ‘Water of Life’ and originated as a term used for distilled spirits back in the middle ages. The idea behind the modern gin was to do something more contemporary and in contrast to the typical juniper heavy, herbaceous London Dry gin “something unique to Tasmania.”
With a focus on local Tasmanian and Australian ingredients, this modern take on a classic gin challenges the typical full-bodied, heavy gins readily available in the Australian market. It’s a harmonious blend of imperial mandarin, rose, Tasmanian-grown eucalyptus, lemon myrtle, wild fennel, lavender and chamomile alongside the hero, Juniper. This results in a modern, clean spirit that teases the palate with fresh, fruity and floral notes with a sweeter texture.
Cheers everyone!
Gin and Tonic Pairing
This month’s gin pairs with a fruity tonic, we have chosen Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic
- 30ml Aqua Vitae Modern Tasmanian Gin
- 90ml Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic
- Slice of fresh / dried peach
(Alternative garnish's include mandarine or lemon
Pour in to a glass and add a slice of peach and lots of chunky ice
Aqua Vitae Modern Tasmanian Gin and Tonic
Tasting Notes
Gin Type
Contemporary Dry Gin
Appearance
Clear and Bright
Aroma
Eucalyptus, pine and spice with just a hint of fruit
Palate
Sweet, fruity and smooth
Botanicals
Imperial Mandarin, Strawberry Eucalyptus, Lemon Myrtle, Wild Fennel, Serbian Juniper
Finish
Long and sweet with a touch of spice
Cocktail of the Month
Georgia Gin Cocktail
Picture - Georgia Gin Cocktail
- 45ml Aqua Vitae Modern Tasmanian Gin
- 15ml Marionette Pach Liqueur
- 30ml Orange Juice
Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice. Pour the gin, peach liqueur and orange juice into the shaker and shake until the outside of the shaker is cold. Strain into a cocktail glass and serve with an orange or peach wedge.
Garnish with an orange or a peach wedge.
