Underground Spirits, Canberra’s most awarded spirits brand and the spirit of Canberra, has partnered with the Australian National Botanic Gardens to create Ad Crescendum Native Gin. Ad Crescendum—Latin meaning to grow—the collaboration was created with specially foraged native botanicals grown in the garden in celebration of the Gardens’ 50th Anniversary year in 2020.

“Underground Spirits and the Australian National Botanic Gardens have worked together to create a gin that is really something special,” said Underground Spirits CEO, Claudia Roughley, “and we’re so privileged to be given access to truly wondrous botanicals.”

Many precious plants and flowers grown, nurtured and protected at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, and this native gin features botanicals from all over Australia sourced from the Gardens including Banksia, Finger lime, Rainforest Aniseed, White Aspen and Yam Daisy. Ad Crescendum will remain part of Underground Spirits’ permanent line-up of premium Canberra-made spirits.

Peter Feilen, Horticulturalist at the Australian National Botanic Gardens revealed today how happy the Gardens are to partner with Underground Spirits to create this special gin.

“We have a hugely diverse collection of native species in our living collection, with seeds and cuttings sourced from every corner of Australia. I couldn’t be prouder in celebrating the foundation of our institution, drawing on Australia’s rich plant heritage to create this special edition 50th Anniversary Gin,” said Peter.

Underground Spirits’ Ad Crescendum Gin is now available to purchase online from www.undergroundspirits.com.au, and from select retailers in Canberra. Part of the profits from this gin will help to support native plant conservation activities by the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

Botanicals used

• Banksia ericifolia (Banksia): honey sweet,
• Citrus australasica (Fingerlime): fresh zesty citrus, hint of cooked apples.
• Syzygium anisatum(Rainforest Aniseed): aniseed.
• Acronychia oblongifolia(White Aspen): citrus
• Microseris lanceolata (Yam Daisy): sweet and slightly coconutty.
• Podocarpus elatus(Plum Pine / Illawarra Plum): pine taste, sweet.
• Backhousia myrtifolia (Grey Myrtle): cinnamon.
• Rubus moluccanus(Native Raspberry): raspberry fruit.
• Tasmannia lanceolata(Pepperberry): aromatic peppery.

Tasting notes

Ad Crescendum is a tactile and engaging gin with hints on the nose of the Australian backyard. The taste is soft on the tongue and mellow with a mild sweetness, like pear flesh, from native flowers. Linking to the botanicals used, the Banksia offers a honey sweet nectar aroma, along with the White Aspen and the Yam Daisy topping it up with a bit of tropical, balanced by the sharpness of the Plum Pine, and the citrus of the Fingerlime and the Grey Myrtle. The Pepperberries, the Grey Myrtle and the Rainforest Aniseed complete the citrus and sweet profile by adding just the right amount of spiciness and some more complex flavours.