Forty Spotted is named after the forty-spotted pardalote, one of Australia's rarest birds, found in a handful of pockets in southern Tasmania and nowhere else. The gin is made by Lark Distillery, the people who kickstarted the modern Australian whisky industry, and it doesn't act like most gin ranges. One distillery, six gins, almost no two tasting alike. Juniper shows up, but it rarely runs the show.
Here's what's actually in the range, and what to expect from each one.
What does Forty Spotted Pinot Noir Gin taste like?
Like a glass of red that wandered into the wrong bottle. Built around full-bodied Tasmanian Pinot grapes and peppery juniper, with citrus, plum, and dark berry underneath. Rich, layered, smooth finish. Works over ice, works stirred, it's the one to start with if you're only trying one.
Forty Spotted Pinot Noir Gin — $84.00
What does Forty Spotted Classic Gin taste like?
This is the one that started it all. Native Tasmanian pepperberry stands in for some of the juniper, with kaffir lime leaf and lemon peel keeping things dry before it warms into something more herbal. The reliable one. Reach for it in a G&T or a martini and it won't let you down.
Forty Spotted Classic Gin — $80.00
Is Forty Spotted Raspberry & Rose Gin lower in alcohol?
Yes — 20% ABV, half the strength of the rest of the range. Tart raspberry and citrus settle into grapefruit, then a rose and berry finish. Built for the nights you want flavour without committing to a full-strength session. Best over ice with soda and a grapefruit wedge.
Forty Spotted Raspberry & Rose Gin — $67.00
What other Forty Spotted gins are there?
Three more, currently sold out but worth knowing for when stock lands again:
Wild Rose — rose and violet florals, traditional juniper, a citrus lift, finishing on fairy floss sweetness. The most floral release Forty Spotted makes.
Tassie Bush Honey — rooibos tea and Tasmanian bush honey, with juniper giving way to caramel, floral meadow notes, and peppery heat. The closest thing in the range to a winter gin.
Citrus — Australian citrus and native pepperberry, sweet and aromatic, orange and tangerine up front. The easiest entry point of the six.
The takeaway
Forty Spotted's whole bet is that gin doesn't have to taste like gin. Pepperberry instead of pure juniper, Pinot grapes instead of citrus peel, rose and raspberry at half strength. Six releases, six different ideas of what a Tasmanian gin can be.
Shop the full Forty Spotted range — including what's currently in stock.
Also worth a read: How three mates turned a timber yard into the world's best gin distillery, the Four Pillars story.