A Little Reflection on Our First Summer Gin Sessions – Live Music & Gin

Our very first Summer Gin Sessions are officially wrapped, and what a season it’s been. Picnic rugs rolled out, grazing boards absolutely devoured, DIY garnish bar chaos (the good kind), and more than a few long afternoons that turned into early evenings.

It was a blast.

The garnish bar quickly became a hit — turns out people really enjoy being in charge of their own citrus-to-herb ratio. Extra rosemary? Go for it. Triple berries? We support you. It was creative, slightly unhinged at times, and exactly the kind of energy we hoped for.

Our new grazing boards didn’t last long most Saturdays. Shared, picked at, demolished. Exactly as they should be.

And then there’s Karridale summer…

Let’s be honest — it’s not always golden-hour perfection. It can be quiet. Wild. Windy. Occasionally dramatic. One Saturday, Lightnin’ Jack played through torrential rain for the first hour (absolute legend), before the clouds parted and the sun finally let everyone spill back out under the canopy of trees. That moment felt very “down south” — a bit unpredictable, but worth sticking around for.

We also started playing around with cocktails on tap, which added a bit of fun to the mix. The Negronis quickly became a crowd favourite — bold, bitter, unapologetic. Much like some of the garnish choices.

But more than anything, what made this summer special was the people.

We chatted to loads of locals. Laughed with returning holiday-makers. Met lovely passing travellers. Were surprised by old friends..

There’s something pretty magic about watching different groups settle into the same space — dogs under tables, kids running around, couples sharing boards, musicians setting the tone. But the best part? People talking across tables. Introducing themselves. Getting familiar. That quiet shift from “separate bookings” to “shared afternoon.” A real community vibe.

We quietly turned one this summer too, and these sessions felt like a little celebration of that. Not fireworks. Just good music, good gin, and good company.

Thank you to everyone who came along, braved the wind, stayed through the rain, spread the word, brought your friends, and supported a small family business finding its rhythm.

We’ll definitely be doing it again and will be working on a better wind break before next session.

Thanks, Bec & Slade