4 Easy Coctails made from Straight Up Carrot gin
If you’ve picked up a bottle of Straight Up Carrot Gin, you’re already doing things a little differently.
Made in Ohakune at the base of Mt Ruapehu, this small-batch New Zealand gin brings something unexpected to the glass. A bright, clean gin, with a subtle earthy sweetness that changes depending on how you drink it.
If you’re wondering how to drink carrot gin, here are four simple serves to get you started.
1. The Classic Gin and Tonic
The gin and tonic is still the best place to start; if you do it right. One part gin to three part mixer. (Or, just measure the way you like it)
Fill a glass with ice
Add your carrot gin - measure with your head or heart
Top with a quality tonic
Finish with a fresh orange garnish or a fresh horopito leaf
This is where you’ll taste the balance. A London Dry style gin that is a bright citrus on the nose, clean juniper, then that smooth, earthy finish that makes carrot gin stand out. Not too vegetal but a balanced refreshing serve.
2. The Sonic (The Underrated Favourite)
Half tonic, half soda.
Simple, but it changes everything.
50/50 tonic and soda (or more soda or more tonic according to your preference)
Plenty of ice
Fresh Thai basil to garnish (level up your garnish game now)
The Sonic strips things back and lets the spirit shine. Less sweetness, more structure. This is one of the best ways to drink gin if you want something lighter without losing flavour. (The carrot aroma is more present when diluted back with soda or water in this way).
3. The Martini (For Sophisticated Gin Drinkers)
If you want to understand this gin, make a martini.
Straight Up Carrot Gin
A lick of dry vermouth
Stirred over ice
Garnish with an olive or add a dash of rock salt (to season)
Make sure you put your martini glass in the freezer while you stir your martini.
What you get is texture and depth. Silky, slightly savoury, with a gentle warmth that sits just under the surface. This is where a small-batch craft gin really shows its character.
4. The Negroni (Unexpected, But Works)
A classic cocktail with a twist.
Equal parts Carrot gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth
Add some bitters of your choice
Stir over ice
Orange peel to finish
The carrot softens the bitterness and rounds out the drink with a mouthfeel to be repeated. It’s still a Negroni - just smoother, more approachable, and very easy to go back for another.
Carrot Gin, Done Your Way
There’s no single “right” way to drink gin. It is really up to how you like to drink it.
But different serves bring out different sides of the spirit. So embrace the unexpected but familiar taste of Straight Up Carrot Gin and try it in an easy cocktail.
Taste Carrot Gin in Ohakune
If you’re visiting the Central Plateau, you can experience Straight Up Carrot Gin where it’s made.
Book a Tour and Tasting at Ruapehu Distillery and see how this New Zealand craft gin is made an what sets it apart.