White spirits can be just as laidback and sessionable as beer – if you know how to use them.
Unless you’re out at a club, there’s a general consensus that spirits aren’t the way to go for casual hangs with family and friends. Beer and wine are far more relaxed, goes the notion. Who would have a gin and tonic with dinner? Who’d bring vodka to a barbecue?
We would. And so should you. Why on earth not? And it’s white spirits – think vodka, gin and blanco tequila – that we want to especially vouch for here. When we scan what our mates are bringing along to Sunday arvo drinks, it’s the white spirits that feel woefully underrepresented. After all, modern craft distilleries are quite literally flooding the market with spirits that are interesting, diverse, mixable, and, importantly, every bit as sessionable as beer or wine. All you need is to know how to use it.
To help, we’ve pulled together a list of five amazing white spirits that would ably serve as the backbone of any bar cart, with some super-simple cocktail recommendations you can prepare at any casual gathering or cosy night in.
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1. Bare Bone Vodka
Love it or loathe it, vodka is often exactly what a drink needs, whether it’s providing a neutral base to allow other cocktail ingredients to shine, or a clean and refreshing drinking experience when mixed with soda. Texas-based distillery Bare Bone took cues from the nearby bourbon industry in making its own all-American take on the spirit, distilled using a mixture of American wheat and corn for a clean taste with a soft, sweet finish.
Use it in: Muddle strawberries and raspberries, add elderflower liqueur, vodka, apple juice and top with soda to create a Courtside that’ll transport you straight to Centre Court at the All-England.
2. Archie Rose Straight Dry Gin
Sydney’s Archie Rose makes some of Australia’s most beloved gins, vodkas and whiskeys, but they might not all be within your budget. Thankfully the distillery has created a range of affordable, approachable spirits built specifically for mixing into your favourite drinks. Their Straight Dry Gin encapsulates this ethos, blending classic dry gin ingredients with some of the sustainably sourced Aussie botanicals Archie Rose is known for (like lemon myrtle, orange peel and pink peppercorn), creating something distinctively classic yet complex. Don’t let the lower price tag fool you – this is top-notch gin, every bit as good as the others in their line-up.
Use it in: add gin to your Americano for a stronger take on the classic cocktail. Use equal measures (25mL) of gin, rosso vermouth and Campari, topped with soda and a slice of orange. Like a Negroni, only infinitely more refreshing.
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3. Hendrick’s Gin
One of the world’s most popular gins for a reason, Hendrick’s is a perfect example of how diverse gin can be when distillers play fast and loose with typical conventions. The Scottish gin is made with a diverse array of botanicals that steer away from dry gin’s trademark citrus and spice, instead leaning into fresh and floral bouquets offered by cucumber and rose. Naturally, it’s a summer drink marvel.
Use it in: Hendrick’s is basically tailor-made to be spritzed, served long, or used in cocktails that emphasise clean and green flavours. Try it with soda and a slice of cucumber for simple refreshment, or smash it up with basil, lemon juice and simple syrup to create a herby, citrusy wonder.
4. Don Julio Blanco Tequila
Try a good blanco tequila after years of drinking the cheap stuff and it’ll change your life. Blanco skips the ageing process, and a well-made one should deliver all the clean, fruity agave notes that truly make a Margarita sing. Don Julio Blanco is an icon in the industry for a reason, and this bottle is a failsafe choice if you’re wanting to add a reliable tequila to your rotation. Clean enough to mix, high quality enough to sip slowly on its own.
Use it in: Leave the orange juice in the fridge and make the original Tequila Sunrise. First invented in a Tijuana casino in the 1930s, it’s just as simple, yet properly showcases the spirit without drowning it out. Get 45mL of tequila, add 15mL of lime juice, a 7.5mL drizzle of grenadine and a 2.5mL dash of creme de cassis. Top with ice and soda water. Of course, if OJ is your vibe, you can find the better known Tequila Sunrise recipe here.
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5. Tanqueray No. Ten Gin
Tanqueray’s No. Ten is one of the world’s most acclaimed gins, beloved in high-end gin bars and among aficionados for sticking resolutely to the classic London Dry DNA, while adding even more citrus complexity with fresh Mexican limes, Florida oranges and pink grapefruits. Put simply, it’s an elevated spirit that’s worth the extra 20 or 30 bucks.
Use it in: A Gin and Tonic that will blow your mind. This is a spirit designed very much with G&T’s in mind, making your choice of tonic and garnish all the more important. We like something vivacious and low-sugar like Fever Tree’s Refreshingly Light Mediterranean Tonic, while Tanqeuray recommends a wedge of punchy pink grapefruit to garnish.
