Bronze — Wine / Grape Gin
Bronze — Gin & Tonic
Part 4 of our 3608 Medal Series gets a little juicier.
At the 2026 Australian International Spirits Awards, 3608 Shiraz Gin picked up two Bronze medals — one in Wine / Grape Gin and another in Gin & Tonic.
Heathcote Shiraz meets Bartender’s Cut Gin, with blackberry, plum and dark cherry doing most of the talking.
A little darker. A little fruitier. Still very much 3608.
TWO MEDALS. PLENTY OF CHARACTER.
Two different judging classes. Same bottle.
In the Wine / Grape Gin class, the judges found lifted spice and poached fruit. In Gin & Tonic, the dried fruit and tannin held their own once tonic joined the party.
That’s a pretty good result for a gin that started with our Head Distiller Aimee asking what would happen if Shiraz and gin spent a little more time together.
Turns out, plenty.
SHIRAZ WALKED INTO A GIN.
The idea starts with Heathcote Shiraz, given 120 hours on skins before meeting 3608 Bartender’s Cut Gin.
That brings blackberry, plum and dark cherry into the mix, while Bartender’s Cut brings the juniper, citrus and spice underneath.
The result sits somewhere between vineyard and distillery — juicy, bold and just a little rebellious.
Exactly the sort of thing that tends to happen when Aimee gets curious.
DARK FRUIT DOES THE TALKING.
Shiraz Gin is a different side of the 3608 range.
Blackberry. Plum. Dark cherry.
Then underneath, there’s the familiar juniper, citrus and spice giving the fruit something solid to lean on.
It’s rich without getting heavy, fruit-forward without forgetting it’s gin, and different enough to make you stop after the first sip and have another look at the glass.
No wallflower behaviour here either.
KEEP IT COLD.
This one doesn’t need much fuss.
Keep it in the fridge, pour it over ice and let the dark fruit do the work.
Or stretch it out with tonic or soda when you want something longer.
Fresh citrus works nicely too.
Simple serves. Plenty of flavour.
MADE HERE. POURED HERE.
The best place to get to know Shiraz Gin is still right here in Nagambie.
Come down to Nagambie Brewery & Distillery, grab a spot by Lake Nagambie and ask the team to pour you one.
You’ll get a proper drink made on-site, good food, lake views and a pretty solid excuse to make the trip north.
And if you’re local, even easier.
TAKE THE JUICY ONE HOME.
Prefer to pour your own?
Shiraz Gin is available online, ready for the fridge, the ice bucket or whatever you’ve got planned for the weekend.
Or come and try it where it’s made:
VISIT NAGAMBIE BREWERY & DISTILLERY
Two Bronze medals. Plenty of dark fruit. One very Nagambie bottle.
18+ only. Please enjoy responsibly.
