Aroma: An unusual nose for a gin. Juniper is significantly downplayed and the focus is on cherries and red berries (raspberries?) with an earthy quality. There is a note in the background that I couldn’t pinpoint – maybe almond or macadamia nut? Flavour & Texture: A big, rich and very sweet palate with considerable length. The flavour profile is cherries, citrus and red berries and is almost liqueur-like it is so intense. Juniper is pushed right to the back and the texture is full and dense. The colour is tawny-red and remains so when diluted. Catching up on my review backlog with a few quick-hit reviews. Moonshiner is a micro-distillery in suburban Sydney which Mrs Cascode and I visited in March 2023. We shared a tasting flight of four gins which were served both neat and with some recommended garnishes and mixers. This gin was served with optional star anise, sugar-cured cherries and raspberry-flavoured tonic water(!). We thought it was interesting as an experiment but completely unbalanced and heavy-handed. It’s the sort of thing you try once and don’t actively dislike, but you never feel compelled to try again. Its intense fruity sweetness would appeal to those who have a sweet tooth and want to play with something unusual as a mixer, but it is primarily a novelty. “Average” : 75/100 (2.5 stars)