Recap: Juniperlooza 2019

Gloomy overcast conditions and an unseasonable pelting of early-morning rain could not dampen the spirits of many gin enthusiasts at this year’s Juniperlooza. Held at The Boatbuilder’s Yard on Saturday, 9 February, the one-day event was shifted from its traditional November slot in hopes of catching that sensational summer sun.

Milk Bar Mag attended Melbourne’s best gin party and our gift to you is to reveal our three favourite gin labels to watch out for.

One label you need to get around is Brookie’s Gin from Cape Byron Distillery. Derived from the lush hinterlands of the Byron Bay region, their gin is nothing short of being a paradisal elixir. Brookie’s Byron Dry Gin served with tonic and a blood orange wedge really hit the spot. Their Slow Gin, infused with plums, can be served in a delicious cocktail or poured over ice.

Martin Miller’s blueberry gin cocktail was a treat. Cultivating a unique balance of citrus and juniper, Martin Miller’s gin is strange mix that ultimately brings out the best of England and Iceland.

You can’t attend a gin event and ignore Four Pillars. The award-winning Australian label presented an impressive gin list, including their unashamedly fabulous Shiraz Gin, their Spiced Negroni Gin and their Aussie–Swedish hybrid, Dry Island Gin, made in collaboration with Hernö Gin.

Mother Nature tried her best to put a dampener on the event, but the sun did in fact come out to play. A jovial and fun-filled atmosphere reigned supreme on the day. Crowds were terrified by giant seagulls running amok, wowed by jugglers with dank European accents, and delighted by a roaming band sporting their best fruit-bowl motif.

If you didn’t make it to Juniperlooza, James Bruce from Strangelove eloquently sums it up:

‘The producers are super-passionate about their craft (and they are usually pretty weird). We like being around that, it’s inspiring. Oh and also – there is lots of gin there. So yeah, passion and gin basically … but mainly gin.’

So, who are we to argue?

After selling all tickets in record time, don’t delay in jumping on Juniperlooza’s next party.

Juniperlooza
The Boatbuilder’s Yard, 23 S Wharf Promenade, South Wharf
theboatbuildersyard.com.au/juniperlooza