Howling Owl is an Adelaide gin bar with the right junipery stuff for you

The Hendrick’s Curious Gin Trail is back at Adelaide Fringe right now, with 10 great bars to visit showing just how good the cocktail scene is in Adelaide right now.

Would you like a side of stand up served with your G&T? You’ll find Howling Owl just off Rundle Street in Adelaide’s East End, and at this temple to the juniper arts, you’ll also find plenty of artists — stand up comedians and more — playing to an appreciative crowd.

But as we mentioned, they’re also home to an impressive gin collection of some 250-odd varieties. They’re a dab hand at cocktails too, and an important stop on this year’s Hendrick’s Curious Gin Trail.

Here, Hendrick’s ambassador James MacRae — you may know him better as Wee James — talks to Howling Owl bartender Ella Lazaros-Meyer about what to expect at Howling Owl.

We are here obviously at the fantastic emporium of gin, known as the Howling Owl. Tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name’s Ella. I’ve worked at the Howling Owl for a year and a half now. I didn’t really like gin before I worked here but...

Fantastic!

...it opened my eyes to a beautiful spirit and I’m still learning every day.

Was it here that you discovered more of a passion for gin?

I think so. I really hated tonic water — post mix tonic is awful and I think that put me off Gin & Tonics a lot. When I came here I was like, wow, there’s so many different tonics, and it’s actually quite nice.

What’s your thoughts on the gin and soda?

It’s nice if you want to get used to gin. I think some gin is obviously more suited to soda, [but] I really like tonic.

Well, without further ado, tell me about this fabulous cocktail.

This is the Marquee Moon. It’s basically a Gimlet. It’s super simple, three ingredients, lemongrass and ginger sugar syrup, the Hendrick’s Lunar gin and lime juice.

There’s a little bit of something extra there.

Sure is. Yes, we spray the glass with absinthe beforehand.

So you’ve obviously worked a Fringe season here before. Tell me a bit about that.

It’s the most wild fun festive time. It’s great. I love it because the whole team is on, because it’s super busy and we just have heaps of fun. Yeah, it’s great.

Time goes really fast and then we get to enjoy it as well after.

Yeah, because you’ve got a few shows here as well.

We do. We’ve got over 30 artists having a show here at Howling Owl. Yeah it’s great, we get free tickets.

If someone has never been to the Howling Owl before, say they’re coming from overseas, first time to Adelaide, what is it like?

The Howling Owl is a beautiful little gin den. It’s a little bit quirky. We’ve got a little bit of fun decor going on. We have over 250 different gins from all over. So we’ve got something for everyone. If you haven’t tried gin before or if you’re looking to see something new, try a new gin, we’ve probably got it for you. We can absolutely organise that up for you.

Marquee Moon

• 30ml Hendrick's Lunar Gin
• 30ml lemongrass & ginger syrup
• 15ml fresh lime juice
• 1 Spray of absinthe (coat chilled glass after shake, and before double strain)

Garnished with a lime peel.

Summer Blush Spritz

• 30ml Hendrick's Flora Adora
• Lavender syrup
• 30ml fresh lime juice

Top with soda. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon.