Gin tasting experiences: 11 of the best in Australia

Sip on some of the world’s best gins at these incredible distilleries.

Australia’s unique botanicals – many of which are found nowhere else on Earth – paired with trailblazing producers, have helped create some of the world’s finest gins, right on our doorstep. From Broome to Hobart, an innovative approach to gin production is making the spirit more popular – and more delicious – than ever. And plenty of top-notch distilleries across the country are sharing their knowledge and offering incredible gin tasting experiences.

Sip on some of the country’s finest drops at these world-class distilleries and discover what makes Aussie gin so special.

1. Archie Rose Distilling Co., NSW

A man pouring a gin cocktail. — Sip on some of Australia’s most awarded gins. (Image: Destination NSW)

One of Australia’s most beloved and renowned gin distillers (and for good reason), Archie Rose Distilling Co.’s gin tasting class is a must for any enthusiast or newbie to the spirit. In a one-hour session at their Rosebery cellar door, guests will explore the art of gin-making – sipping their way through the producer’s award-winning gins, limited editions and premium releases – while learning about the distillation process, garnishes and tonic pairings. You’ll also take home a 200ml bottle of their Signature Dry Gin – a contemporary Australian take on a classic dry gin – and a 500ml Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic Water to continue your spirited journey at home.

Price: $79 per person

Address: Archie Rose Bar and Cellar Door, 85 Dunning Ave, Rosebery

2. Millsheds Distillery & Bar, NSW

Once a live music venue, Bowral’s Millsheds Distillery & Bar has transformed into an award-winning boutique distillery. Nestled in the heart of Bowral, it has won silver medals at the London Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirits Competition, and its Highland Gin scored 93/100, placing it among the top gins in Australia. Their two-hour gin crafting workshop offers the ultimate experience, including gin tastings, a distillery tour, a botanical masterclass, sensory exploration, a grazing platter and the chance to create two 200ml bottles of your own bespoke gin.

Price: $149

Address: Shop 9/210-224 Bong Bong St, Bowral

3. Forty Spotted Gin, Tas

A gin making class set up. — Try your hand at creating a delicious Tassie gin.

Tasmania has no shortage of innovative distilleries, with Forty Spotted Gin standing out as a leader, especially if their distinctive bottle design is anything to go by. Harnessing native ingredients such as rooibos tea, Kakadu plum and Tasmanian pepperberry, their gins are known for their deliciously complex flavour profiles. Try your hand at creating something equally as tasty in their Gin Making Experience masterclass. Over the course of two hours, you’ll explore the world of gin while being expertly guided to create your own unique 200ml bottle – sniffing, sipping and discovering along the way.

Price: $99

Address: Level 1, 30 Argyle Street, Hobart

4. Lord Howe Island Distilling Co., NSW

Savouring gin on a World Heritage-listed Island? In our opinion, that’s paradise found. At Lord Howe Island Distilling Co., you can get a behind-the-scenes look to learn about how the island’s first distillery produces its award-winning small batch gins. Co-founder Anthony Riddle leads the one-hour tasting, where you’ll sample gins crafted with locally foraged botanicals like the endemic Mountain Rose and native Sea Grapes, while also learning about the distillation process. More than just a gin tasting, this class aims to connect you with the essence of the island.

Price: $35

Address: 35 Middle Beach Rd, Lord Howe Island

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5. Husk Farm Distillery, NSW

Three bottles of ink gin. — Sample the iconic purple Ink Gin. (Image: Destination NSW)

Husk Farm Distillery jumped on every gin lover’s radar when they released their iconic floral-infused Ink Gin that changes colour when you add your mixer of choice. This all-natural gin is enlivened with 12 botanicals including native lemon myrtle, orange peel and juniper. Learn all about their unique blends in the Ink Gin Experience workshop. Savour a cocktail as you explore the history of this refreshing spirit, then enjoy a guided tasting of four unique varieties and a hands-on cocktail masterclass.

The sprawling property in the lush Tweed region is delightful on warmer days, so enjoying a tipple in the garden is not to be missed.

Price: $72.86

Address: 1152 Dulguigan Rd, North Tumbulgum

6. Darwin Distilling Co., NT

Founded in January 2020 by Rebecca Bullen, Darwin Distilling Co. crafts uniquely Top End gins by harvesting Territory botanicals, bottled with playful, locally-inspired labels. In the ‘Blend Your Own’ Gin Masterclass, you’ll learn how to mix a selection of gin bases with unique botanicals to create four tastings – then bottle up your favourite in a 500ml take-home keepsake.

If you want to take things to new heights, book the helicopter foraging tour where you will get to harvest native botanicals from the exclusive Finniss River Lodge, for your premium gin-making experience

Price: $150

Address: via, Level 1, 56 Smith St, Austin Ln, Darwin City

7. Moontide Distillery, WA

Three gin cocktails with garnishes. — Small-batch spirits hero native ingredients from the Kimberley.

If you’re able to tear yourself away from the picturesque landscape of Broome, head straight to the town’s only distillery, Moontide Distillery. Nestled among mango trees, this hidden gem makes small-batch spirits that hero native ingredients from the Kimberley, such as Kakadu plum and white berry bush. Escape the heat and enjoy a relaxed tasting experience with three mini mixed beverages or straight spirit samples, like the White Pearl Gin, which features notes of mango, tamarind, sandalwood, and lemon myrtle. Order a cheeseboard for the perfect accompaniment.

Price: $29

Address: 17 Gwendoline Crossing, Bilingurr, Broome

8. Four Pillars, Vic

Forget wine when you head to the Yarra Valley, and make a beeline for Four Pillars. This Aussie icon has won the International Gin Producer of the Year award at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London three times, and if that isn’t enough to convince you to go for a gin tasting, not much else will. Renowned for their innovative gin-making approach and bold, contemporary flavours (Think: The Bloody Shiraz Gin, crafted by steeping Yarra Valley Shiraz grapes in Rare Dry Gin), Four Pillars offer a gin tasting experience you won’t forget.

Book in for a 55-minute tasting on the Mezzanine, which includes a signature G&T on arrival, followed by a tasting of five of their flavour-packed concoctions. If you loved what you tried, you can use the $25 off your gin retail purchase and take home your favourites.

Price: $50

Address: 2A Lilydale Rd, Healesville

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9. Never Never Distilling Co., SA

A man making gin cocktails outside. — Drink in idyllic Yarra Valley views. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Once occupying a 16-square-metre space in Adelaide, the Never Never Distilling Co. now occupies a sprawling property atop Chalk Hill in McLaren Vale. What hasn’t changed, however, is its commitment to crafting flavour-forward gins. Reserve a space for The Premium Gin Masterclass, which begins with a drink in hand as you walk around the expansive grounds, learning about the distillery and the gin-making process. This is followed by a tasting of their signature drops – including the Triple Juniper Export Strength, which won World’s Best London Dry Gin at the World Gin Awards in London in 2022 – to be enjoyed while drinking in sweeping views of the rolling McLaren Vale hills, and ending with a cocktail. Visitors won’t walk away empty-handed, as a goody bag packed with Never Never treats is the final touch of the journey.

Price: $145

Address: 56 Field St, McLaren Vale

10. Kangaroo Island Spirits, SA

A display of Kangaroo Island Spirits gins. — Kangaroo Island Spirits produced the first 100 per cent Australian-grown juniper gin. (Image: Kangaroo Island Spirits)

Australia’s first dedicated gin distillery has been sitting pretty on the idyllic Kangaroo Island since 2006, where 230 boobialla (native juniper) were planted on site. Fast forward to 2023, and Kangaroo Island Spirits proudly produced the world’s first 100 per cent Australian-grown juniper gin. It’s this dedication to the spirit that beckons gin lovers for a tasting.

Enjoy five of their expertly crafted gins that champion native ingredients like the coastal daisy, matched with tonic and garnishes. The experience also includes a tour of the distillery and interpretive garden.

Price: $40

Address: 856 Playford Hwy, Cygnet River

11. Distillery Botanica, NSW

The botanical garden at Distillery Botanica. — Stroll through the elegantly tended gardens hand-picking your own gin botanicals.

Hiding in the Central Coast, Distillery Botanica has recently opened a cellar door surrounded by expansive botanical gardens. Independently owned by herbalist and master distiller Philip Moore, Distillery Botanica produces a range of top-notch drops that hero native ingredients, including the award-winning Moore’s Dry Gin with lemon myrtle, finger lime and pepperberry.

Join in for a Distil Your Own Gin Workshop to concoct your bespoke 700ml bottle, guided by a tasting session and a foraging experience in the garden. The workshop also includes teachings on how to make the perfect G&T or gin and soda, and the perfect garnish to top it off.

Price: $180

Address: 25 Portsmouth Rd, Erina

Located just an hour north-west of Melbourne, the largely undiscovered Macedon Ranges quietly pours some of Australia’s finest cool-climate wines and serves up some of Victoria’s best food.

Mention the Macedon Ranges and most people will think of day spas and mineral springs around Daylesford, cosy weekends away in the countryside or the famous Hanging Rock (of enigmatic picnic fame). Or they won’t have heard of the Macedon Ranges at all.

But this cool-climate destination has been inconspicuously building a profile as a high-quality food and wine region and is beginning to draw serious attention from oenophiles and epicureans alike.

The rise of Macedon Ranges wine

liquid gold barrels at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — Barrels of liquid gold at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

With elevations ranging from 300 to 800 metres, Macedon Ranges vineyards are among the highest in the country. This altitude, combined with significant day/night temperature swings, makes for a slow ripening season, in turn nurturing wines that embody elegance and structure. Think crisp chardonnays, subtle yet complex pinot noirs and delicate sparkling wines, along with niche varietals, such as gamay and nebbiolo.

Despite the region’s natural advantages – which vary from estate to estate, as each site embodies unique terroir depending on its position in relation to the Great Dividing Range, soil make-up and altitude – the Macedon Ranges has remained something of an insider’s secret. Unlike Victoria’s Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula, you won’t find large tour buses here and there’s no mass marketing drawing crowds.

Many of the 40-odd wineries are family-run operations with modest yields, meaning the wineries maintain a personal touch (if you visit a cellar door, you’ll likely chat to the owner or winemaker themselves) and a tight sales circle that often doesn’t go far beyond said cellar door. And that’s part of the charm.

Though wines from the Macedon Ranges are just starting to gain more widespread recognition in Australia, the first vines were planted in the 1860s, with a handful of operators then setting up business in the 1970s and ’80s. The industry surged again in the 1990s and early 2000s with the entry of wineries, such as Mount Towrong, which has an Italian slant in both its wine and food offering, and Curly Flat, now one of the largest estates.

Meet the new generation of local winemakers

the Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. — The Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Then, within the last 15 years, a new crop of vignerons like Andrew Wood at Kyneton Ridge Estate, whose vineyard in 2024 was the first in the Macedon Ranges to be certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia; Geoff Plahn and Samantha Reid at Paramoor, who have an impressive cellar door with a roaring fire and studded leather couches in an old Clydesdale barn; and Ollie Rapson and Renata Morello at Lyons Will, who rapidly expanded a small vineyard to focus on top-shelf riesling, gamay, pinot noir and chardonnay, have taken ownership of local estates.

Going back to the early days, Llew Knight’s family was one of the pioneers of the 1970s, replacing sheep with vines at Granite Hills when the wool industry dwindled. Knight is proud of the fact that all their wines are made with grapes from their estate, including a light, peppery shiraz (some Macedon wineries purchase fruit from nearby warmer areas, such as Heathcote, particularly to make shiraz) and a European-style grüner veltliner. And, as many other wineries in the region do, he relies on natural acid for balance, rather than an additive, which is often required in warmer regions. “It’s all about understanding and respecting your climate to get the best out of your wines,” he says.

farm animals atKyneton Ridge Estate — Curious residents at Kyneton Ridge Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Throughout the Macedon Ranges, there’s a growing focus on sustainability and natural and low-intervention wines, with producers, such as Brian Martin at Hunter Gatherer making waves in regenerative viticulture. Martin previously worked in senior roles at Australia’s largest sparkling winemaking facility, and now applies that expertise and his own nous to natural, hands‑off, wild-fermented wines, including pét‑nat, riesling and pinot noir. “Wild fermentation brings more complexity,” he says. “Instead of introducing one species of yeast, you can have thousands and they add different characteristics to the wine.”

the vineyard at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — The estate’s vineyard, where cool-climate grapes are grown. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Most producers also focus on nurturing their grapes in-field and prune and pick by hand, thus avoiding the introduction of impurities and the need to meddle too much in the winery. “The better the quality of the fruit, the less you have to interfere with the natural winemaking process,” says Wood.

Given the small yields, there’s also little room for error, meaning producers place immense focus on quality. “You’re never going to compete in the middle [in a small region] – you’ve got to aim for the top,” says Curly Flat owner Jeni Kolkka. “Big wineries try to do things as fast as possible, but we’re in no rush,” adds Troy Walsh, owner and winemaker at Attwoods. “We don’t use commercial yeasts; everything is hand-harvested and everything is bottled here, so we bottle only when we’re ready, not when a big truck arrives.” That’s why, when you do see a Macedon Ranges product on a restaurant wine list, it’s usually towards the pointy end.

Come for the wine, stay for the food

pouring sauce onto a dish at Lake HouseDaylesford — Dining at Lake House Daylesford is a treat. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

If wine is the quiet achiever of the Macedon Ranges, then food is its not-so-secret weapon. In fact, the area has more hatted restaurants than any other region in Victoria. A pioneer of the area’s gourmet food movement is region cheerleader Alla Wolf-Tasker, culinary icon and founder of Daylesford’s Lake House.

For more than three decades, Wolf-Tasker has championed local producers and helped define what regional fine dining can look like in Australia. Her influence is palpable, not just in the two-hatted Lake House kitchen, but in the broader ethos of the region’s dining scene, as a wave of high-quality restaurants have followed her lead to become true destination diners.

the Midnight Starling restaurant in Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — The hatted Midnight Starling restaurant is located in Kyneton. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

It’s easy to eat well, whether at other hatted restaurants, such as Midnight Starling in the quaint town of Kyneton, or at the wineries themselves, like Le Bouchon at Attwoods, where Walsh is inspired by his time working in France in both his food offering and winemaking.

The beauty of dining and wine touring in the Macedon Ranges is that it feels intimate and unhurried. You’re likely to meet the winemaker, hear about the trials of the latest vintage firsthand, and taste wines that never make it to city shelves. And that’s worth getting out of the city for – even if it is just an hour down the road.

Delicate dishes on the menu at Midnight Starling. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

the accommodation at Cleveland Estate, Macedon Ranges — Stay at the Cleveland Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Soak up vineyard views from Cleveland Estate near Lancefield, embrace retro charm at Kyneton Springs Motel or indulge in lakeside luxury at the Lake House.

Eating there

Enjoy a four-course menu at the one-hatted Surly Goat in Hepburn Springs, Japanese-inspired fare at Kuzu in Woodend or unpretentious fine dining at Mount Monument, which also has a sculpture park.

Drinking there

wine tasting at PassingClouds Winery, Macedon Ranges — A tasting at Passing Clouds Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Settle in for a tasting at Boomtown in Castlemaine, sample local drops at the cosy Woodend Cellar & Bar or wine-hop around the many cellar doors, such as Passing Clouds.

the Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar signage — Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Playing there

a scenic river in Castlemaine — Idyllic scenes at Castlemaine. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Wander through the seasonal splendour of Forest Glade Gardens, hike to the summit of Hanging Rock, or stroll around the tranquil Sanatorium Lake.

purple flowers hanging from a tree — Purple flowers hanging from a tree. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

11 of the best gin tasting experiences across Australia