4 ways to celebrate Ginuary that isn't just drinking G&Ts

Whether you're making your own or attending a festival dedicated to gin, celebrate one of your favourite tipples with a Ginuary celebration this January.

You’ve probably heard of Dry January, but the devil on the other shoulder is Ginuary - a month-long dedication to all things gin.

If you’ve got a few gin lovers in your office, or are looking for the perfect excuse to host some after-work drinks, this is it!

What you can do do for Ginuary with your team

Most importantly, have fun!

1. Set up a gin tasting

A fun and cost-effective option is going the BYO route and ordering a few bottles of different gins to sample.

Just like you’d create a flight of wines or paddle of beers, sample small amounts of a few different brands and flavours of gin. Try them plain with ice or mix in some tonic, soda water or juices to find a new way to drink the spirit.

Protip: Order your drinks from our marketplace! We have suppliers across Australia who offer gin.

2. Host a gin-based cocktail making class

Ask your crew what some of their favourite gin-based cocktails are and learn how to make them.

You can hire a mixologist for a few hours to show you how to properly shake, blend and stir your cocktails or if you’re on a tighter budget, just wing it with a few recipes and the right mixers.

3. Learn how to blend your own gins

More and more distilleries are popping up across Australia and along with tours and tastings, some are even offering the opportunity to make your own. 

A few places you can do this include:

• Brisbane Distillery’s Gin School is in session twice a day from Thursdays to Sundays where you can craft the perfect gin from your choice of more than 180 different botanicals.
• Bass and Flinders on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula offers a Gin Masterclass where you’ll be guided through the gin-making process and create your own 500ml bottle to take home.
• If you’re in Sydney, Manly Spirits offers a two-hour gin-making class where you can design your own spirit and bring home a bottle of your personalised gin at the end!
• Ambleside Distillers

4. Go to a Ginuary festival

If you’re in Hobart or Brisbane - you’re in luck! Both cities host a Ginuary festival.

Sample plenty of gin varieties and see if you can find a new favourite.

The 2023 Hobart event happened 14-15 January, but we’ll update this page with the 2024 dates as soon as they’re released.

Hosted right by the river at the Howard Smith Wharves Rivershed and The Greenhouse, Brisbane’s Ginuary festival was on 22 January in 2023.

Both events do take place on the weekends, but if your team really is full of die-hard gin fans, consider organising for a few people to attend the event.

Our resident gin lovers share their favourite ways to enjoy the spirit

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Tommy Loutfian, Operations Manager (Catering & Meals)

Favourite gin: Four Pillars is topping the list, but honourable mentions go to Hendricks, Lawrenny and Nordes.

Preferred way to drink it: Negroni

What he’d do for Ginuary: He’d blend his own spirits with a Ginbrew kit.

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Alex Keshen, SEO and Content Marketing Specialist

Favourite gin: Fourty Spotted’s Tassie Bush Honey Gin

Preferred way to drink it: With tonic and a dehydrated orange

What she’d do for Ginuary: Join a cocktail making class at a local distillery.

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Sarah Hordern, Customer Care Manager

Favourite gin: 23rd Street Distillery Signature Gin

Preferred way to drink gin: Martini or Negroni

What she’d do for Ginuary: Put together a gin-themed puzzle… with a gin in hand, of course!

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Sarah’s recipe for an Olive Leaf Gin Martini

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Ingredients: 

• 70ml Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin
• 15ml Vermouth
• Lemon
• Olive Oil
• Green Cocktail Olives

How to make it:

• Stir gin and vermouth in a mixing glass over ice
• Strain into frozen cocktail glass
• Twist lemon peel over to express the oils, then discard
• Garnish with few drops of olive oil
• Service with sicilian olives

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