Needle & Pin is a relatively new label in South Australia, with the first batch of gin released in mid-2019 by Kayla Grigoriou, who comes from a wine-making family at Portia Valley Wines. A small batch gin, the Riverland Dry showcases flavours synonymous with the Riverland including orange, olive leaf, coriander, saltbush and lavender.
What makes this distinct from your typical dry-style gin is the savoury profile of the saltbush and olive leaf, which balance out the citrus profiles.
At $65 for a 500mL bottle, the Needle & Pin is definitely one of the more affordable South Australian gins on offer, and easy weekend drinking. This gin would be perfect in a dirty martini, but the flavours stand out when served with ice-cold soda water. Needle & Pin recommend a garnish of olives and lemon peel.
