3 Top Gin Cocktails for AFL Grand Final Weekend | Nick Tesar's Picks

Nick Tesar wearing a colourful, Melbourne AFL team scarf, holding a glass of beer, and raising both arms in celebration, stands on a grassy field at a sunny sporting event.

GRAND FINAL WEEKEND DRINKS

Being born and bred in Victoria, it’s fair to say that AFL is close to our hearts. Which means we (read Nick, our Creative Director of Gin Drinks) are just a little bit excited about the upcoming long weekend, and we’ve got the drinks to celebrate with.

SHAKY PETE

The perfect gin cocktail for the AFL Grand Final party! Ginger, Navy Strength Gin, topped with ale. Banger.

INGREDIENTS
- 30mL Navy Strength Gin
- 60mL ginger and lemon syrup (recipe below)
- ½ can of ale
METHOD
- In a blender, blitz gin and syrup with 3 cubes of ice (alternatively, shake hard in a tin)
- Dump into a handled glass
- Top with beer!
GINGER & LEMON SYRUP INGREDIENTS
- 200mL ginger juice
- 300mL lemon juice
- 250g caster sugar
GINGER & LEMON SYRUP METHOD
- Add ginger juice, lemon juice and caster sugar to a container and stir until sugar is dissolved
- If juicing fresh ginger, use 200g peeled ginger in a blender with 50mL water and strain through a fine strainer

THERMOS PUNCH

Up your picnic game with Fresh Yuzu Gin, cold brew black tea, and zesty lemon sherbet, all served from a thermos. You’ve got yourself a gin-spiked iced tea…

INGREDIENTS
- 300mL Fresh Yuzu Gin
- 1L cold brew black tea (recipe below)
- 200mL lemon sherbert (recipe below)
METHOD
- Combine all ingredients in a thermos
- Pour 150mL over ice in an enamel mug for a single serve
- Enjoy!

COLD BREW BLACK TEA RECIPE
- Combine 30g loose leaf black tea and 1L water in a container and leave in the fridge overnight
- Strain tea to remove loose leaves
LEMON SHERBERT RECIPE
- Peel 5 lemons and mix peels with 160g sugar
- Juice peeled lemons and add to sugar and peels
- Stir to combine and strain

champagne flute filled with a refreshing gin cocktail made with Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin and topped with champagne

JASMINE FRENCH 75

If your team wins, it’s time to crack the bubbles. Rare Dry Gin, a touch of bitter liqueur, and orange marmalade, topped with sparkling wine.

INGREDIENTS
- 30mL Rare Dry Gin
- 5mL bitter liqueur
- 1 teaspoon Orange Marmalade
- 20mL lemon juice
- 75mL sparkling wine
METHOD
- Combine gin, bitters, Orange Marmalade and lemon juice in a tin and shake with ice
- Double strain into a flute
- Top with sparkling wine