Back in 2021, when the borders were closed and international travel non-existent, Adelaide’s Never Never Distilling Co. collaborated with one of Asia’s most innovative new cocktail venues. Situated with the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong, ARGO has been named in the top 3 of Asia’ 50 Best Bars list and together with Never Never, they created the most innovative martini gin.
The creation was one that embodied the exciting flavours of Hong Kong while staying true to the Never Never’s flavour promise and now, they want you to try it,
Join Never Never and Lorenzo Antinori on Tuesday August 16th at Adelaide’s Maybe Mae and experience a gobsmacking martini experience from one of Asia’s most outstanding cocktail bars, ARGO.
ARGO Gin was a contemporary style featuring various Chinese white teas, both in distilled and brewed formats. The final gin is then barrel aged in locally sourced ex-Chardonnay barrels that were rapidly seasoned with dry vermouth under vacuum. This gives the gin a champagne hue and sublime mouth feel, perfect for the martini format.
On Tuesday 16th of August, the drinks creator and Beverage Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, Lorenzo Antinori, will be helming the bar at Maybe Mae showcasing the exciting representation of the world’s most famous cocktail. Keeping the bottle well below freezing point, ARGO gin arrives at the table at -14 degrees and is served directly into a chilled glass tableside.
The accompanying selection of two chilled seasonal hydrosols brings the martini up to temperature and gives guests a choice of a savoury or citrus direction. The garnish is a spherified olive that bursts in the mouth delivering an exquisite amplification of savoury sophistication.
“We wanted to innovate a classic martini and took inspiration from some of the greatest martini bars in the world,” says Lorenzo. “We decided to keep the spirit of ARGO gin untouched and transformed how we diluted the cocktail instead, adding layers of flavours while preserving the gin DNA, something that hasn’t been done before in this format.”
“The seasonal hydrosols add layers of complex flavours to the drink and at the same time they create a dynamic serve, which changes according to the season,” says Lorenzo.
“It also allows guests to have a unique and bespoke experience, based on their pick, of either the citrusy or savoury one.”
Brand Director at Never Never Distilling Co. Sean Baxter said “When Lorenzo first approached us about innovating the martini it was both exciting and a little terrifying.”
To enhance something that is already considered the perfect cocktail when made well was a huge challenge, it speaks to who we are as a business.”
The end result of months of collaboration was a gin that forms the basis of one of the most exciting representations of the martini I’ve had the pleasure of consuming. I think we bloody nailed it.”
Innovation has always been a huge part of what makes Never Never’s Dark Series so exciting and partly why ARGO Gin cleaned up on the 2021 international award circuit winning a prestigious 95 points and gold medal at the International Wine and Spirit Awards.
Lorenzo is briefly in town to assist in the production and blending of the latest ARGO batch and chose to use his one night in Adelaide to show South Australia’s martini connoisseurs the exciting flavours of ARGO with the help of Adelaide institution Maybe Mae.
As with all experiences at Maybe Mae it is vital to book your seat to avoid missing out as space is extremely limited. Bookings can be made here. Simply book your place for the corresponding date.
The ARGO martini experience will be held on Tuesday 16th August from 6pm.
Maybe Mae is located at 15 Peel Street, Adelaide 5000
Read more about Never Never’s ARGO Gin here.
