It’s rare for a sequel to be as good as the original, but Salena Estate’s part two knocks it out of the park!
Say ciao to Lock 4 Distillery — the newest venture for the beautiful Franchitto family behind the award-winning Salena Estate and Cucina 837 in the Riverland. Using award-winning grapes from their stunning vineyard and hand-peeled local fruit, their range of zesty cellos, gins and vodkas will make you fall in love all over again with everything this abundant region has to offer. Owners Bob and Sylvia Franchitto have got a real knack for mixing iconic Riverland flavours and thinking outside the square, which is why their truly unique products will take your breath away.
Pull up a pew and let’s spring in…
Cello, sunshine!
The Lock 4 line-up of cellos is like sunshine in a bottle — think lemon, lime, orange, mandarin and citrus concoctions that can be enjoyed neat and ice-cold, to spice up a cocktail or even on top of ice cream! Traditionally sipped on as an aperitif before a meal or as a digestif to cleanse your palate, a chilled limoncello has long been part of the Salena Estate offering and a nod to the family’s Italian heritage. It’s only natural that Bob decided to mix it up with a whole range of new flavours that are all distilled on-site.
“This range is so exciting because you can really taste what our home in the Riverland is all about with each one,” says Marketing Manager, Salena Muirden. “The mandarin and orange cellos are so fruit driven, they taste like you’re biting into a fresh piece of mandarin or segment of orange; and the lime cello adds another delicious dimension to a tart! You can mix them into desserts, cocktails, slushies, over ice cream… once you start experimenting, you’ll see just how versatile they are!”
Super neat!
Lock 4’s crystal clear triple distilled vodka is the top-of-the-line vodka and is perfectly enjoyed straight, over ice, or in your fave cocktail. It’s soft and smooth from beginning to end with slightly fruity and caramel teasers.
Bob may be tinkering away but he’s certainly doing it well, with the Loxton Dry Gin already winning silver at the Tasting Australia Spirit Awards. It’s crafted from 10 Riverland botanicals, which give you bursts of lemon and orange citrus as well as coriander, cardamom and cinnamon flavours, plus a little floral note from the Elderflower.
When you really want to bring out the big guns, Lock 4’s Navy Strength Gin has a unique soft sweetness to it, with concentrated aromatics of classic juniper and bright citrus flavours. It’s a more concentrated version of the dry gin, plus it has a few other botanicals to give a lift and punch… but they’re top secret and will remain under wraps… can’t give it all away!
And finally, not one for the faint-hearted, the Chilli Vodka will have your tastebuds doing a little dance long after it passes your lips. “Being Italian, we add spice to everything and this baby’s made using chillies grown from Dad’s garden. It gives a good kick without being too intense or burning — it’s more of a tingling that softens and dissipates. It’s perfect with bitter lemonade, and it’s super refreshing as opposed to being hot,” Salena says. Plus, this baby just took out gold at the International Spirit Challenge, so you know it’s a winner.
Of course, a little Riverland adventure gives you the opportunity to soak up some of the Franchitto family’s legendary hospitality. You can check out this delightful new range of spirits and liqueurs in-house, in cocktails or sample and take them home. Or, to bring the thrills straight to you, jump online and order away! Salut!
