Newcastle’s upcoming Shuck Fest, and the release of a distinctively oyster-flavoured gin, brings together two of the city’s oldest family brands.
The Earp family has been active in the local business community since 1883, when George Frederick Earp arrived from London and set himself up as an import merchant. Today, as well as running a long-standing tile business, the family operates the mightily successful Earp Distilling Co.
Dawson’s Oyster Supplies has been operating since 1964, sourcing Sydney Rock and Pacific oysters from farming families in Port Stephens and delivering them to restaurants seven days a week.
Thus, you’ll be experiencing the spirit of Newcastle in more ways than one when you visit the Earp distillery in the port suburb of Carrington.
Dawson’s Oysters feature on the distillery’s regular menu but the spotlight will truly shine on these delicious oysters when Earp hosts Shuck Fest next month.
A feature event of Newcastle Food Month, Shuck Fest runs for three hours from 12 noon to 3pm on April 12. Entry tickets cost $30, which includes a spritz on arrival, a food tasting token, and a 10ml taste of Earp’s new Dawson’s Oyster Gin.
There’ll be live music by Hamish Guiana, along with a variety of stations selling freshly shucked Dawson’s Oysters, seafood dishes prepared By Earp, Summertime Limoncello sorbet by East End Ice Creamery, among others.
Taste the new Oyster Gin
Festival goers will be the first to taste the new Oyster Gin, a limited-edition spirit which Earp is releasing during Shuck Fest. With an ABV of 42%, it’s described as having hints of sea and citrus on the nose, smooth viscosity, watermelon notes and a “subtle marine salinity”.
It can be enjoyed in a martini, G&T or on the rocks, and if you love it on the day, you can take home a 500ml bottle for $59.
Earp has a strong commitment to working with local producers. Other collaborations have produced customized spirits for Crystalbrook, QT, and Bannisters. The distillery last year produced a coffee vodka in collaboration with Carrington coffee roaster, Slingtown, and it is about to team up with Pukara Estate to do an olive gin.
Since the distillery was established in 2019, its product range has expanded to include whisky, vodka, gin, rum, brandy, limoncello and orancello. It experiments with up to 170 ingredients in the same lab where it holds consumer events including a 3-hour spirit school and 1-hour blending class.
Newcastle Food Month
The distillery is a great place to drop into any time from Wednesday to Sunday for a meal or a drink at the bar. During Newcastle Food Month, it will be offering a Plate Date deal for $30 which includes a dish of Ajilo Prawns with housemadeflatbread and a glass of Earp’s No. 8 Dry Gin & Tonic.
Earp Distilling Co.
41 Darling Street
Carrington NSW 2294
Australia
Tel: +61 2 8317 5777
earpdistillingco.com