The Day I Went To Gin School - Augustman
Augustman Logo
Style
Culture
Gear
Food & Drink
Travel
Wellness
AM Select
E-Magazine
Most Trending
The Day I Went To Gin School
Most Recent
The Day I Went To Gin School
Most Trending
Longchamp X EU “Been A Champ” Collection Brings Out The Champ In You
Most Recent
Gucci Melds Their House Code with Balenciaga’s For Their Centennial
  • Fashion
  • Watches
  • Grooming
Most Trending
Live The High Life At These Most Extravagant Penthouses
Most Recent
Life in Edo | Russel Wong in Kyoto Exhibition Explores Japanese Culture And Craftsmanship
  • Design
  • Events
  • Art
  • Music
  • Film & TV
Most Trending
This Bluetooth Speaker Is Made Using Upcycled E-Bike Batteries
Most Recent
Modernity Meets Sustainability With Ante’s New Tech-cessories
  • Tech
  • Motoring
Most Trending
Pretty Sweet: Dolce & Gabbana And Fiasconaro Are Celebrating Italian Confectionery
Most Recent
Lost Distillery: Rare Brora Whiskies Are Going Under The Hammer
  • Dining
  • Drinks
Most Trending
Check Out These Lavish European Castles Available For Rent
Most Recent
Are “Health Passports” The Key To Restarting Global Travel?
  • Travel Guides
  • Hotels & Resorts
Most Trending
These Famous Athletes Also Run Successful Lifestyle Brands
Most Recent
Can’t Sleep? Try These Effective White Noise Devices
  • Fitness
  • Health
Most Trending
Technopreneur Ryan Chew On Using Blockchain To Solve Global Issues
Most Recent
A Tribute To Britain’s Prince Philip. The A To Z Of The Duke Of Edinburgh
  • Men of the Year
  • MVMT
  • August Mentors
  • A-Listers
  • Hit List
  • sg
    • MY
    • SG
  • Search
The Day I Went To Gin School
Sort & Filter
Close Filter
Sort By
Date
Relevance
Filter By Category
All Categories
All
Style
Culture
Gear
Food & Drink
Travel
Wellness
AM Select
Apply
Filter By Location
singapore
All Countries
Food & Drink
Lost Distillery: Rare Brora Whiskies Are Going Under The Hammer
Food & Drink
Pretty Sweet: Dolce & Gabbana And Fiasconaro Are Celebrating Italian Confectionery
Food & Drink
Where To Find The Oldest Bars Around The World And In Asia
Augustman Logo
sg
The Day I Went To Gin School
Back
All  Style
  • Fashion
  • Watches
  • Grooming
Back
All  Culture
  • Design
  • Events
  • Art
  • Music
  • Film & TV
Back
All  Gear
  • Tech
  • Motoring
Back
All  Food & Drink
  • Dining
  • Drinks
Back
All  Travel
  • Travel Guides
  • Hotels & Resorts
Back
All  Wellness
  • Fitness
  • Health
Back
All  AM Select
  • Men of the Year
  • MVMT
  • August Mentors
  • A-Listers
  • Hit List
E-Magazine
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Sort & Filter
Close Filter
Sort By
Date
Relevance
Filter By Category
All Categories
All
Style
Culture
Gear
Food & Drink
Travel
Wellness
AM Select
Apply
Filter By Location
singapore
All Countries
Food & Drink

The Day I Went To Gin School

Juliana Chan Sub Editor
26 Aug 2019
Article Hero Image
A fellow student at The Brass Lion Distillery's gin making workshop
Trending Now
Gucci Melds Their House Code with Balenciaga’s For Their Centennial
StyleRead More
Longchamp X EU “Been A Champ” Collection Brings Out The Champ In You
StyleRead More
Life in Edo | Russel Wong in Kyoto Exhibition Explores Japanese Culture And Craftsmanship
CultureRead More
Live The High Life At These Most Extravagant Penthouses
CultureRead More
Want honest food & drink reviews or handy dining & nightlife guides? We have it all. Sign up to receive it.

 

the well equipped work station at The Brass Lion Distillery's gin making workshop
The well equipped work station, with everything you need to make your own bottle of gin

Gin isn’t quite mother’s milk to me the way that it was to a certain Eliza Dolittle’s aunt (George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion), but I do like a good gin. So when the chance came to learn to make my own, I naturally accepted. Arriving at Brass Lion Distillery’s Gin School triggered memories of practical sessions in the science lab. This one definitely smelt better though – of herbs and flowers instead of preserved amphibian specimens in murky bell jars.

Some of the dried botanical ingredients available at Brass Lion Distillery's gin making workshop

A vast cabinet against one wall housed shelves and drawers of glass jars containing every conceivable botanical that has been used for gin making. On a counter at the front of the room were also several trays of fresh herbs. These were what gave the room the fresh aroma that greeted me. I settled into a work station – equipped with a mini copper still, a rack of essential ingredients, a micro scale, a tasting flute, several beakers, and a journal – and eagerly waited for the lesson to begin.

Knowledgeable instructor at The Brass Lion Distillery's gin making workshop
Our knowledgeable instructor at The Brass Lion Distillery’s gin making workshop
Now Let’s Make Some Gin

The class was first introduced to different gin profiles via a tasting flight of the Brass Lion gins: the Singapore Dry, the Pahit Pink and the Butterfly Pea. The instructors then walked the class through the process and intricacies of distilling the spirit, and provided tips on creating a well-balanced bottle of gin.

At the word ‘go’, I made for the trays of fresh herbs to discover what I might want to include. I decided against pandan, basil and kaffir lime leaves as I didn’t want flavours that I regularly experience in my food. I also left spearmint and peppermint alone as I didn’t want a mouthwash. I conceded to using a little cologne mint for a hint of freshness though.

The ingredients for a great tasting gin, curated at The Brass Lion Distillery's gin making workshop
The ingredients for a great tasting gin, curated at The Brass Lion Distillery’s gin making workshop

The aromatics and flavours that I chose included buahlonglong, fennel, lemon balm and moringa leaves, galangal root, torch ginger flower and, for some softness, rosella. I weighed the basic ingredients: juniper berries (which is what makes gin, well, gin), coriander seeds, orris, cubeb, and angelica for stability, and put them all in the pot, into which I’d already poured the requisite measures of water and ethanol. Then I hit the switch, turned on the heat, crossed my fingers and waited for magic to happen.

The Brass Lion Story

In 2012, on realising there wasn’t a spirit that was crafted here, founder Jamie Koh embarked on a quest to create a spirit that captures the heart of Singapore. Her journey began with a series of internships at distilleries across both sides of the Atlantic, from Portland to London, and even Germany’s Black Forest. Returning after six years, she created a wholly Singaporean gin.

Since launching Singapore Dry Gin, the boutique distillery has been conducting weekly distillery tours ($45). With the launch of its gin workshop ($198), gin lovers now have the chance to distill and take home their own bottle of gin. “We absolutely want to share our love for gin and the art of distilling. And at our distillery, we are able to provide a truly hands-on and enjoyable experience,” Jamie said.

Faery’s Breath

Back to the gin I was trying to make… I tried what I’d collected in the beaker and, without meaning to boast, it was rather good. Magic did happen. I’ve decided to call my bespoke gin Faery’s Breath and was actually proud to put my name on the label where it said “Master Distiller”.

 

gin
singapore distillery
Gin Making
Brass Lion Distillery
singapore dry gin
bespoke gin
Juliana Chan Sub Editor
Talk to Me About:

Up Next For You

Lady Gaga And Dom Pérignon Collaborate On New Limited Edition Bottles
Richard Augustin
Food & Drink
These 10 Essential Cookbooks Are What Every Avid Home Cook Needs
Manas Sen Gupta
Food & Drink
The Chivas Extra 13 Collection Features Exceptional Blended Scotch Enhanced By Flavourful Casks
Richard Augustin
Food & Drink
Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2021: Odette Comes In Second, While New Singapore Entries Make The List
Azimin Saini
Food & Drink
Want honest food & drink reviews or handy dining & nightlife guides? We have it all. Sign up to receive it.
×
Where are you?
Tell us so we can display what you want to see.
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
Malaysia Singapore
Advertise About Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions
© 2021 Copyright Augustman