Underground Spirits High tea at Floriade features L’épi tarts. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
As preparations for Floriade ramp up, three of Canberra’s most creative beverage brands are raising the bar at this year’s festival.
Previous years have seen cocktails in teapots, Bridgerton-esque tea parties and plenty of fun, so the pressure is on to create another memorable experience.
This year, Contentious Character Wines and Underground Spirits are coming together under one tent, literally!
“We’re setting up a big stretch tent to house everything: it’s going to be marvellous,” Underground Spirits CEO Claudia Roughley said.
“It’s a chance to showcase the creativity and quality of Canberra’s drinks industry in front of hundreds of thousands of visitors.”
At a sneak peek event, I had the chance to sample what will be on offer at the Floriade tent.
The ‘Shirazzamatazz’ cocktail for Floriade. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Contentious Character’s Verdelho wine passionfruit, honeysuckle and lime is paired with Underground Spirits’ 2025 Floriade Gin for a fruity, golden cocktail simply called The Garden.
And there’s a nice synchronicity to the pretty-in-pink ‘Shirazzamatazz’ cocktail, which is made with shiraz gin, rosé and a hint of orange blossom.
“The shiraz gin [made by Underground Spirits] is actually barrel-aged in our shiraz barrels,” said Contentious Character managing director Ben Jarrett.
“So that pulls everything together. Coming up with the cocktails behind the scenes is where all the fun happens!”
L’épi Bakery will be providing the treats for a full Gin High Tea, featuring the Floriade Tart. This scrumptious sweet features coconut and pineapple, fluffy sponge and a golden dome of lemon curd, topped with elegantly piped flowers.
Visitors to the Gin and Wine tent can book for a full wine tasting, a gin garden experience or just pop in for a tipple or two on the day. Picnic hampers are available for those wanting the full Floriade experience.
For those after a non-alcoholic option, Bentspoke Brewing has two options, including its sparkling Floriade water featuring refreshing notes of hibiscus.
It will also host brewing demonstrations at its separate beer garden and plenty of outdoor seating.
According to Ben Jarrett, it all adds up to the perfect spring day.
“Springtime, sitting in the garden, taking in the vista of all the tulips: how can gin, wine and a picnic not work together there?”
Find out more and book your gin or wine experience at Floriade at Contentious Character. Follow Underground Spirits, Contentious Character and Bentspoke Brewing on Instagram.
Floriade is held at Commonwealth Park from 13 September to 12 October.
