Sip breezy botanicals
Join gin tastings and sip on fragrant botanicals, crafted to lift the spirits, on a jaunt out of Melbourne. Explore regional distillery doors and taste handmade tipples, from the Mornington Peninsula to the Great Ocean Road and beyond.
If you’re a fan of breezy botanicals made with a whole lotta love and care, here are 10 of Victoria’s best gin distilleries to check out.
1. Kilderkin Distillery, Ballarat
Pop into Kilderkin Distillery in Mount Pleasant and pull up a chair at the bar to sample a range of their top-notch Larrikin gins and liqueurs. Tuck into a tasting flight and sip your way through classic and limited-edition gins, complemented perfectly by a tasty cheese platter. Kilderkin also runs hands-on events and workshops, so you can learn about different botanicals while distilling your own bottle of perfectly balanced, handcrafted gin.
Kilderkin Distillery, Mount Pleasant, Ballarat
2. Swiftcrest Distillery, High Country
Just outside of Mansfield, discover Swiftcrest – a tiny family-run distillery doing big things in the High Country. Sustainability is at the heart of this off-grid distillery, from the pure organic ingredients in every bottle to the use of fallen timber to heat the stills. Stop by Swiftcrest to try a selection of their incredibly clean, bright gins during an intimate farm gate tour and cellar door tasting experience.
3. Big Tree Distillery, Macedon Ranges
Pay a visit to Big Tree’s idyllic distillery door and bar in the beautiful Macedon Ranges to taste award-winning gins while looking out across picturesque rolling hills. Passionate husband and wife team Catherine and Gary are big gin lovers, and they created Big Tree Distillery to share their tasty tipples with the world.
Big Tree Distillery, Newham, Macedon Ranges
4. Apollo Bay Distillery, Great Ocean Road
Head for the coast and pop into Apollo Bay Distillery for handmade gin with a nod to nautical history and local botanicals. Sit down to a wood-fired pizza and sea views at this laidback coastal spot or book in for a gin masterclass to learn the ins and outs of the distilling process.
5. That Spirited Lot Distillers, Mornington Peninsula
An easy hour’s drive from Melbourne lands you on the Mornington Peninsula, where coastal wineries share the limelight with a handful of boutique gin distilleries. Head to Seaford to sample award-winning gin at That Spirited Lot Distillers. Brothers JP and Chris are serious about their spirits, so you can expect to be blown away by brilliant botanicals and delicious cocktails.
That Spirited Lot Distillers, Seaford, Mornington Peninsula
6. Mountain Distilling, Macedon Ranges
Macedon region’s Mountain Distilling are purveyors of finely crafted herbaceous and botanical gins. Producing limited batches and locally sourced, these distillates are as distinctive as the bottles in which they are lovingly stored. If you’re in the Macedon area, be sure to stop by Mountain Distilling in New Gisborne for a spirited tasting.
7. Backwoods Distilling Co, High Country
Another top spot for gin lovers heading to the High Country, Backwoods Distilling Co uses 100% Australian grains, local casks and native botanicals to produce exceptional spirits. Take a seat beside the beautiful copper stills at their distillery door and sip your way through a tasting paddle or G&T while enjoying the peaceful alpine surroundings.
Backwoods Distilling Co, Yackandandah, High Country
8. Anther Distillery, Geelong
Making a splash around Geelong and the Bellarine are a vibrant bunch of boutique distilleries and gin bars. In Geelong, small-batch Anther Distillery and Bar blends science and botanicals based on Australian native plants. Enjoy a tailored distillery tour or pull up a seat at the bar for gin tastings and curious cocktails.
9. Four Pillars Distillery, Yarra Valley
Four Pillars Distillery has pinned Healesville firmly to Victoria’s gin trail. Since 2013, they’ve surfed the craft gin boom to lofty heights. Treat your palate to paddles of G&T tasters at the distillery door, open seven days a week. Join a tour or book a masterclass to learn the secrets of making award-winning gin.
Four Pillars Distillery, Healesville, Yarra Valley
10. Queenscliff Distillery, Bellarine Peninsula
If you’re visiting the Bellarine Peninsula, head to Queenscliff Distillery for grazing and gin tasting at their spacious cellar door. Locally sourced ingredients take centre stage here, with a strong focus on creating stellar spirits that reflect the beauty of the coastal town of Queenscliff. Order a tasting paddle and chat with the friendly team to learn the story behind the gin.
