Overview
To someone who hasn't spent a heap of time in Brisbane, explaining the allure of the Ekka's famous strawberry sundaes isn't easy. Yes, strawberry ice cream exists year-round in the River City. Yes, anyone can scoop their own onto a cone and top it with a strawberry and some cream whenever they want. But for decades, the pink-hued sweet treats served up at the Royal Queensland Show have been as much of a drawcard as carnival rides, sideshow games, fairy floss and Bertie Beetles — perhaps even more so.
The Sunshine State's southeastern corner doesn't just love Ekka strawberry sundaes. It's obsessed with them, as evidenced by the array of other folks who've whipped up their own versions over the years — some also in dessert form, some even boozy. In the latter category in 2023: Ekka Strawberry Sundae Gin from local distillery Granddad Jack's. Yes, this tipple's appeal is all there in its name.
Here's how it works: the Gold Coast-born purveyor of spirits, which also has an outpost in Brisbane, has taken fresh strawberries, then macerated them. They're then combined with strawberry jam, vanilla beans, vapour-infused dehydrated strawberries, strawberry cheesecake bars and juniper berries.
The end result, when the hard stuff is ready to drink: a liquid strawberry sundae with a kick (and with 40-percent alcohol by volume) that smells jammy and sweet, and feels creamy on the palate.
Granddad Jack's recommends sipping the gin with tonic plus a citrus garnish, or in a punch. Whichever you opt for, you'll get the full strawberry sundae experience — those strawberry cheesecake bars are designed to bring a waffle cone flavour, too.
This is a limited-edition drop, so much so that the first batch sold out on its first weekend. Granddad Jack's hustled to put together another batch in time for the Ekka's arrival, and the public holiday, which you can purchase now for $95 a bottle.
Granddad Jack's Ekka Strawberry Sundae Gin is available to purchase online while stocks last via the distillery's website.