Puss & Mew Distillery ~ The Gin Queen

Deb and Brett Clayton opened their distillery Puss & Mew in Nanawading, Melbourne, just as we were emerging from the final lockdown in 2021.

Deb is a former teacher, while Brett made his career in insurance. They wanted to make a change and build a business where they could work together. Driven by a love for gin, they decided to open the distillery.

Their venue is a welcoming, cosy affair where you can enjoy a wide range of cocktails and some delicious food.

If you fancy making your own gin, you can book a spot at their gin school and choose you botanicals from their carefully organised botanical wall.

They have created three very different gins with some unique flavour profiles.

Signature Dry Gin

Smooth and complex, their Signature Dry Gin provides a balance of botanicals, drawing inspiration from the same liquor Captain Dudley Bradstreet would funnel through a cat’s paw. Spiced warmth with a hint of citrus and rooty undertones, finished by the subtle sweetness of vanilla.

BOTANICALS
Juniper, Coriander, Angelica Root, Orris Root, Orange, Lemon, Lemon Myrtle, Strawberry Gum, Cardamon, Grains of Paradise, Vanilla Pod.

Spiced Turkish Delight

Turkish Delight, the Middle Eastern dessert is the inspiration for this unique gin.

Rose Petals are vapour infused to collect rose water, the core ingredient of the traditional treat.

BOTANICALS

Juniper, coriander, cloves, rose Petals, orange, vanilla, and cinnamon are distilled together, before the gin is infused with hibiscus to complete the flavour balance and develop the beautiful pink hue.

Honey Coconut gin

Deb and Brett have a family connection to Castlemaine Honey (also known as Mcdonald Honey) and were inspired to create Honey Coconut Gin.

BOTANICALS

Juniper, coriander, toasted coconut (Deb toasts it herself), cassia bark, all spice, nutmeg, dried fig are distilled before the gin is steeped in fresh honey straight from the beekeeper.

I expected Honey Coconut gin to be very sweet, but it’s surprisingly dry. A hint of fig and warm spice are the backdrop to the nutty flavour of the coconut, whilst the Australian honey adds a delicates smoothness to the finish.

I was so impressed with their Honey Coconut Gin, that I featured it in my Top 10 Australian gins of 2021.