Community has always been important for Patient Wolf.

Now based in Southbank following a move from the backstreets of Brunswick, Patient Wolf co-founder Matt Argus says it was important the business remain in the city.

“We wanted to be accessible,” says Argus. “We think Melbourne’s one of the best cities in the world for food and drink, and we wanted to be right in the heart of it and amongst it.”

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He says Southbank locals have embraced the new gin distillery and tasting bar. “We’ve been really heavily supported,” says Argus. “For example, there’s an architecture firm around the corner from us and they did something for Melbourne Design Week. We partnered with them on an event there and they sent everyone around to our distillery bar for post-event drinks.”

Since moving on from the cocktail kits the team created to help gin lovers through lockdown, Argus and the team have been focusing on events – including linking up with nearby residential partners like Home, who have created build-to-rent residential communities in Southbank, and shortly, in Richmond . “We do masterclasses at the distillery, so we’re kicking around ideas about doing either a gin or cocktail masterclass for Home residents,” says Argus. “[The idea is] to create a really good community.”

Patient Wolf-branded bars also featured at the 2022 Grand Prix, serving up spritzes to thirsty racegoers. Again, the opportunity arose through location. “The team [behind the Grand Prix] has its office in the neighbourhood and they’d come into the distillery bar to have a few drinks,” says Argus. “I think with these world-class global events, they’re moving to make that event more unique and provide people with an experience only that [host] city can offer.”

For the Grand Prix, Patient Wolf offered a Summer Thyme gin drink – a gin and lemon-led spritz Argus says is easy to make at home.

“It’s not shaken or stirred,” says Argus. “It’s a built cocktail, which means filling a wine glass with ice and topping it up with ingredients. A really simple cocktail to replicate.” Which means less time mixing drinks, more time socialising.

The gin here is characterised by Patient Wolf’s infusions of lemon and thyme, which are vapour-infused in its custom-made copper still, to produce a gin bursting with lemon zest and big juniper notes. It’s dialled up further when married with lemon soda, sparkling wine and a garnish of fresh raspberries and thyme. “It’s like summer in a glass,” says Argus. “The lemon soda complements the lemon zestiness from the gin really well and the sparkling wine just gives it a nice dry finish. Then it’s garnished with raspberries and thyme - ideal garnishes to complement that citrus kick from the lemon soda and gin.”

Patient Wolf will soon be available at Home Southbank’s new bar The Green Room, which will be operated by Melbourne institution, Au79.

Here’s how to make Patient Wolf’s Summer Thyme and Lemon Spritz at home.

Summer Thyme and Lemon Spritz
Makes 1 serving. Approx. 1.2 standard drinks.

Ingredients:
30ml Summer Thyme gin
30ml sparkling wine
60ml lemon soda (try Capi)
Raspberries and thyme to garnish

Method
Build ingredients over ice. Garnish with raspberries and thyme.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Home. Home is Melbourne’s first luxury build-to-rent brand, aiming to reinvent renting for a generation of people seeking unique lifestyle experiences.