FLORESCENCE GIN is a collaboration between Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and Anther Spirits. This boutique gin contains plants foraged from Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Proceeds from the sale support Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s important landscapes, research and innovative public programs. FLORESCENCE GIN is hand made at Anther Distillery. Florescence according to the Oxford Dictionary means “the process of flowering” or “the process of developing richly and fully”. All Florescence ingredients are currently growing at both Gardens sites, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, which are home to thousands of plant species: there are 8,500 at Melbourne and 1,700 native Australian plant varieties in the Australian Garden at Cranbourne. This includes traditional ingredients such as Juniper, Coriander Seeds, Orange and Lemon peel, but also includes unique selections of native Australian plants such as Tasmannia xerophila (Alpine Pepper), Kunzea parvifolia (Violet Kunzea), Baeckea gunniana (Alpine Baeckea) and more. One ingredient, Tasmannia xerophila is a common shrub of the alpine zone and an ancient native woody plant in Victoria. The leaves and berries are aromatic but have a little heat that takes a little while to hit the palate. Another, Kunzea parvifolia is fairly widespread in Victoria. In spring its mauve bottlebrush-like flowers can light up its environment with a purple haze. Tim Entwisle, Director and Chief Executive, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria says, “I have personally taste-tested and approved of this gin. It has a fantastic aroma and a unique and charismatic flavour. We hope that you enjoy it!"
