16 Melbourne distilleries you need on your radar

Melbourne’s craft spirits industry is booming and these are the key distilleries driving the rapid growth.

When you think of an iconic distillery in Melbourne the names Four Pillars and Starward usually come up first. Yet, as you’ll see below, there is so much scope for Melbourne’s craft spirits that you could easily thread in a distillery crawl when you want an alternative to the city’s best pubs and cafes.

If there’s anything that distinguishes Melbourne’s best restaurants, it’s the keen understanding that produce consumed as close to the source as possible results in a superior dining experience. The same logic applies to spirits; the closer you are to the source, the better.

This is why sitting down at a Melbourne distillery and working your way through the state’s best craft spirits is always worth your time. You don’t have to venture far to find a top-quality gin distillery in Melbourne, or a great whisky distillery.

Below, you’ll find 16 of the city’s best and also a few regional gems worth travelling for. Whether you’re gathering a few mates for a whisky tasting or taking a date on a gin-making class, these spots will have you praising the state’s boundless creativity.

1. Starward, Port Melbourne

a look inside the bar and distillery at Starward, Port Melbourne — Experience Melbourne’s booming whisky scene at Starward. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Best for: Award-winning whisky and an insightful distillery tour

Starward is the most awarded whisky distillery in Melbourne and a pioneer in Australia’s booming whisky scene. Starward is most likely the first stop for any fans of the brown stuff.

Since 2007, this stalwart distillery has been producing mostly young, intensely drinkable whiskies with a preference for those sweeter flavours garnered from sherry, red wine and bourbon casks. The ginger beer cask series has especially been drawing heavy praise for the distillery these past few years, but almost every time we visit, there’s something new and exciting to distract us from the signatures.

Melbourne’s temperamental climate means whiskies tend to absorb oaky flavours much faster than they would in other regions, giving Starward plenty to play around with as the team experiments with local ingredients for expressions like Nova and the highly acclaimed Two Fold.

Book ahead for a behind-the-scenes tour where all stages of the whisky production process are detailed before you dive into a whisky tasting with two 15ml pours. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get to taste two unreleased whiskies straight from the barrel.

Address: 50 Bertie St, Port Melbourne

2. Little Lon Distilling Co., CBD

Patrons sit outside at Little Lon Distillery in Melbourne — Little Lon Distilling Co. is set within a charming heritage building in the CBD.

Best for: A charming heritage bar set and experimental craft gin

Little Lon Distilling Co. lucked out when the team scored this charming heritage-listed brick building just a stone’s throw from the State Library. The cottage houses one of the best gin distilleries in Australia, proudly intimate – there are only 20 seats in the tasting room – and always busy.

Little Lon’s awarded gins are also placards for the area’s sketchy past, each inspired by a notorious individual who once roamed the nearby streets. For example, the lychee-flavoured Little Miss Yoko is named for a sex worker who lived in the cottage in the early 1900s. Little Lon’s unique gin-making class doubles as a Melbourne history lesson, and we’ve picked up more than a few secrets about the city from visiting over the years.

Address: 17 Casselden Pl, Melbourne

3. Bathtub Gin Co., Williamstown

a stack of wine barrels at Bathtub Gin Co., Williamstown — Brave a tasting of the navy-strength, barrel-aged Mighty Apollo. (Image: Colleen Mahoney)

Best for: Unique gins and excellent pizza

Though named for the older way of distilling, Bathtub Gin Co. is anything but basic. This popular micro-distillery in Brunswick is home to some of the best small-batch gin in Melbourne, which is saying a lot given the state’s eternal love of all things botanical.

A great range of flavours sits behind this experimental bayside distillery, which makes the most of local Victorian produce and caters to a broad scope of tastes. The interesting cherry-infused Best Day Ever gin makes a unique G&T, while the hardy, barrel-aged Mighty Apollo, with a solid 60 per cent ABV, is our go-to whenever we’re in the mood for a classic navy strength.

Take a seat at the bar and order some classic pizza or a charcuterie board to go with your gin tasting. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Brunswick for good reason.

Address: 25 Aitken St, Williamstown

4. Dukes Distillery, South Wharf

the Dukes Distillery in South Wharf — Step inside the cellar door of Dukes Distillery for a cocktail-tasting flight.

Best for: Craft gin with big, unique flavours

Re-shaping a former motorbike workshop in South Wharf, Duke’s Distillery is one of Melbourne’s most adventurous – a comprehensive offering that includes a towering 500-bottle wine wall for anyone not in the mood for spirits.

After years of working with grapes, the small team of winemakers behind this cellar door pivoted towards small batch spirits and liqueurs. The focus on flavour has certainly carried over with unique offerings like oyster shell gin, and pineapple coconut vodka.

The cocktail-tasting flight will take you through the range, best paired with the kitchen’s specialties like chicken katsu udon and slow-cooked lamb shank.

Address: 25 Dukes Walk, South Wharf

5. Cedar Fox Distilling Co., Coburg North

the bar at Cedar Fox Distilling Co., Coburg North — Pull up a chair at the bar and settle in for a tasting flight. (Image: Kate Arnott)

Best for: Its stylish green onyx bar with classic gin cocktails

You’ll find Cedar Fox Distilling Co. near the station in Coburg North, inside a gutted former warehouse with a slick green onyx bar and all the tools to produce top-shelf small-batch gin. Although we’ve made the mistake of showing up during the winter months; it’s a seasonal distillery so only pops open when Melbourne’s weather is much more tolerable.

The label is a favourite amongst Melbourne’s best bars, pumping out pleasant, adaptable gins that work perfectly in martinis. We reckon the martini flight is the best way to go, offering three mini martinis that change regularly based on what’s popular that week.

In terms of food, you’re getting standard distillery fare at Cedar Fox. Indulge in all the cheese, charcuterie and olives you could ask for. And if you’ve had your fill of gin, there’s always a list of local beers.

Address: 11 Mantell St, Coburg North

6. Reed & Co, Bright

a bottle of gin at Reed & Co, Bright — The gin at Reed & Co is worth the drive to Bright. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Best for: Produce-forward craft gin with native ingredients

When chef Hamish Nugent moved on from Tani Eat & Drink in 2016, he used his culinary skills to spearhead a new regional distillery out in the Victorian town of Bright and start playing around with the ever-adaptable profile of gin.

Nugent’s background comes in great use for Reed & Co , mashing up botanicals for unique gins like the flagship Remedy Gin, which has notes of eucalyptus, pine and mountain pepper.

When he isn’t foraging, Nugent is leaning on local farmers to supply ingredients like apples and green tea, all of which are used to create these interesting botanical profiles that keep Reed & Co. front and centre in discussions on the best Melbourne gins.

Given the range is so wildly diverse, a gin-tasting flight is the only way to do Reed & Co Distillery justice, offering samples of some of Nugent’s latest and greatest before as well as your own bottle to take home.

Address: 555 Bourke St, Melbourne

7. Brunswick Aces, Brunswick

a specialty gin at Brunswick Aces, Brunswick — The non-alcoholic bar and distillery prides itself on expertly curated gins. (Image: Supplied)

Best for: A pioneering zero-alcohol range with rich flavours

At the head of the zero-alcohol movement is Brunswick Aces , one of Australia’s most modern gin distilleries and a muse for local bartenders. Stroll inside and you’ll see the full range of the distillery’s innovative products, including the latest from other no-alcohol labels like Non and Heaps Normal.

Set in a nondescript warehouse neighbouring popular Temple Brewing, this Melbourne distillery makes full use of its unique stills, which co-founders Stephen Lawrence and Cameron Hunt have placed behind a big glass window. Guests can watch the magic happen at any time.

The team’s unique process leads to intensely flavourful distillates that mix well in classic cocktails like the coconut and cucumber-accented King Louis, using the label’s signature Hearts Sapiir and its notes of wattleseed and citrus.

Address: 124 Weston St, Brunswick East

8. Patient Wolf Distilling Co., Southbank

sample gins at Patient Wolf Distilling Co., Southbank — Patient Wolf Distilling Co. produces perennial award-winners like the classic Melbourne Dry Gin and the Rouge Barrel. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Best for: A two-hour bottomless gin tasting

Having outgrown its original location in Brunswick a few years ago, Patient Wolf Distilling Co. has ramped up production in Southbank and shot forward as one of the most anticipated craft gin labels in Australia.

Now shaped into a converted red-brick warehouse, the Patient Wolf team have much more capacity to pound out those perennial award-winners like the classic Melbourne Dry Gin and the Rouge Barrel, the latter of which gets its flavour from French oak barrels.

Park yourself at the head-turning brass-topped bar for an excellent cocktail menu covered in classics with a few surprises. If you’re feeling extra leisurely, tap into Patient Wolf’s two-hour bottomless gin package: a full 120 minutes of unlimited G&Ts, spritzes (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and a healthy selection of charcuterie and antipasto, as well as a guided gin tasting. It’s the best way to play at this popular Southbank distillery.

Address: 34-36 Market St, Southbank

9. Saint Felix, Mordialloc

Saint Felix at Urban Ground in Mordialloc. — Find Saint Felix at Urban Ground within a converted car-wrecking site out in Mordialloc. (Image: Dean Schmideg)

Best for: Its bold range of signature brandies and interesting cocktails

Urban Ground, a converted car-wrecking site out in Mordialloc, is a great representation of Melbourne’s creative hospitality scene. Not only is this sprawling setting home to a vibrant food truck park, but the grounds also host a health food cafe and Saint Felix, a fruit-obsessed distillery specialising in brandy .

Distiller Xavier Nalty, who co-founded Urban Ground with Robert de Santis, leads production with the help of an 18th-century Portuguese copper still and a love of bold flavours.

The signature and most popular brandy is anchored by the super strong flavours of cacao and cherry, but Nalty keeps a broad range with a number of full-flavoured gins and one very unique yuzu and sencha green tea spirit.

The small bar offers tastings and food pairings, so anyone looking for unique spirits should skip the food trucks entirely and head straight to this hidden gem.

Address: 1 Lamana Rd, Mordialloc

10. Naught Distilling, Eltham

Inside Naughty Distilling — The still is in full view of the tasting area at Naught Distilling. (Image: Jana Langhorst)

Best for:  A sophisticated gin tasting of award-winning expressions

Founder and head distiller Chris Cameron has brought plenty of well-deserved awards over to Naught Distilling and its exceptional inner-city cocktail bar. While Melbourne has more than its fair share of gin distilleries refining classics and forming their own identity, there’s something about Naught that has made it one of the city’s brightest stars.

The distinction comes from sophistication, a more immersive atmosphere that hits as soon as you enter the Eltham operation where handsomely dressed staff and table service shift away from the typical bar-in-a-distillery experience and towards something a bit more exclusive.

Eyeing off that powerful German-made copper still while working your way through Naught’s classics and snacking on some charcuterie and tinned seafood: bliss. Order up a gin-tasting flight; if you’re lucky, it’ll include the immensely popular Sangiovese Gin made with full-flavoured Yarra Valley grapes.

Address: 2/32 Peel St, Eltham

11. Anther Gin, Geelong

squeezing lemon into a drink at Anther Gin, Geelong — Fresh flavours are infused into each drink. (Image: Anther Gin)

Best for: Classic gin cocktails and fresh Australian flavours

Head to Geelong and park yourself at the gorgeous, red-bricked warehouse that hosts the modest Anther Gin . Founded by Dervilla McGowan and Sebastian Reaburn in 2016, the small-batch gin label is serious about fresh botanicals and native Australian plants, taking the classic approach with highly localised flavours.

The juniper-loving signature Anther Gin is loaded with fresh pops of eucalyptus, lemon gum and finger limes – brilliant for a headstrong G&T. But the entire range is worth working your way through; grab a tasting board of three different expressions matched with tonics and botanicals.

Better yet, a three-course “meal" of Anther’s signature serves will hit all the right spots for lovers of time-honoured gins.

Address: 33 Mackey St, North Geelong

12. Four Pillars Gin, Healesville

a look inside Four Pillars Gin, Healesville — Four Pillars has cemented itself as the nation’s most renowned gin distillery. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Best for: The quintessential gin-making experience in regional Victoria

Four Pillars is now the most renowned gin distillery in Australia, having scored multiple awards since Matt Jones, Stuart Gregor and Cameron Mackenzie powered up the stills in 2013.

The carbon-neutral Healesville distillery produces over a million bottles of Four Pillars gin per year. There’s barely a bar in Australia that doesn’t at least have the core range on offer, including signatures like the classic London Dry Gin, the hugely popular Bloody Shiraz Gin and seasonal releases like the Four Seasons Christmas Gin.

Surrounded by the Yarra Valley, this legendary cellar door is like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory for gin enthusiasts. Hang out in the sprawling gin garden or one of several bars with a gin flight in front of you. Better yet, take a gin masterclass at the cellar door so you can focus on each of the key ingredients, from Tasmanian pepperberry and Lemon myrtle to classic juniper. You’ll be an expert in no time.

Address: 2A Lilydale Rd, Healesville

13. Loch Brewery & Distillery, Loch

the exterior of Loch Brewery & Distillery, Loch — Loch is home to one of Melbourne’s finest breweries and distilleries specialising in botanicals. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Best for: A great range of beers, gins and single malt whiskies to appeal to all tastes

The organic growth for Loch Brewery & Distillery has remained steady since co-founders Craig Johnsson and Melinda Davies started ageing single malt whiskies back in the early 2000s. While waiting for the whisky to mature, the duo started brewing beer as per old English recipes, favouring those deep, dark stouts and natural ales to balance things out for a growing clientele.

Eventually, grape-based gins became the bread and butter for this distillery out in the regional Victorian town of Loch. Much like the beer, there was a preference for classics like London dry gin and a signature, The Weaver, with five hyperlocal botanicals.

The diversity paid off. Loch’s whiskies constantly sell out. Those gins are stocked on the top shelf of some of the best bars in Melbourne, and are always in such high demand. The diversity means that no tasting paddle is the same whenever we head on back, and that’s why we love heading on out here on a sunny weekend.

Address: 42/44 Victoria Rd, Loch

14. Animus Distillery, Kyneton

a woman mixing drinks at Animus Distillery, Kyneton — Animus Distillery produces top-quality gin using a gravity-fed carbon filter system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Best for:  An off-the-beaten-track road trip and unique range of gins

You’ll find the highly underrated Animus Distillery’s cellar door on the historic strip of Piper Street in Kyneton, which is just over a one-hour drive from Melbourne CBD. You’re in luck if you find those old-world Chesterfield couches empty; this distillery can get very busy with its vibrant cocktail bar and signature tasting flights featuring vapour-pressed gin.

What started as a garage project in Fitzroy North is now very much the heart and soul of the Kyneton community. Since 2015, the Animus team has been producing top-quality gin using a gravity-fed carbon filter system and a broad spectrum of Australian and overseas ingredients.

While there are many gin labels in Victoria, the distinction here comes from those more vegetative and herbaceous notes. Our favourite example is the signature Arboretum gin with its infusion of strawberry gum leaf, lemon thyme, rosemary, oranges and bush tomato.

Address: 1/89A Piper St, Kyneton

15. Westside Ale Works, South Melbourne

gin bottles at Westside Ale Works, South Melbourne — Sample the full scope of spirits on offer at Westside Ale Works.

Best for: A mixed crowd of beer and spirit lovers, plus a stack of board games

As both a brewery and distillery, Westside Ale Works in South Melbourne is widely known for bold American-style IPAs nodding to a SoCal influence. But there’s also a great range of four-grain whiskies, dark rum and gin.

The broad scope means you’ll find a very mixed crowd in this converted warehouse, posted at the very relaxed, uncomplicated bar. A great mix of table and board games are spread across the space, while 30 taps take care of the beer drinkers and a tight list of cocktails showcases the diverse range of spirits.

Address: 36 Alfred St, South Melbourne

16. Brogan’s Way Distillery

a gin sample at Brogan’s Way Distillery, Melbourne — Brogan’s Way Distillery takes on a zero-waste approach to distilling.

Set dramatically in a former automotive warehouse, this Richmond distillery opened in 2018 with Brogan’s Way quickly establishing itself as a beacon for the local community. It was, and still is, a bottomless pit of creativity with a range of gins, vodkas, whiskies and bottled cocktails.

We love the bottled limoncello with its well-rounded zest, and I’m not sure you could keep anyone away from a coffee negroni. Either go well with one of the kitchen’s cheese and charcuterie boards, but most come through for the spirits and cocktail masterclasses. These are some of the best in Melbourne, offering great insights into how Brogan’s Way does things differently and why having a circular, zero-waste approach to distilling is the smartest way to go.

If you want to zone in on just one spirit, we suggest the highly textural Royal Blood Gin, a navy strength number that could stand toe-to-toe with similar products from Four Pillars and Little Lon Distilling Co.

In early 2025, Brogan’s Way also became the first distillery to collaborate with the University of Melbourne to assist in the ongoing research into Indigenous botanicals to help lift the Australian craft scene onto the global stage.

Address: 61 North St, Richmond

Just over an hour from Melbourne, spectacular walking and hiking trails encompass ancient landscapes, forested ridgelines and volcanic peaks.

Just a short drive from the city, the urban sprawl gives way to rolling hills, mineral springs, and lush forests that will have you feeling like you’re in the bucolic countryside of France. Encompassing Daylesford , the Macedon Ranges, Castlemaine and the Central Goldfields, this pocket of Victoria is a region where nature, art, and wellness intertwine. Heritage towns hum with creativity, good food and wine, and welcoming locals. While Daylesford hikes, and those nearby, offer the chance to take a pause and reconnect with nature.

1. Hanging Rock Summit Walk

Etched into folklore, few places in Australia carry as much mystique as Hanging Rock. Rising dramatically from the plains near Woodend, this volcanic mamelon offers a beautiful nature walk. The walk begins at a gentle pace, weaving through shaded woodland before it gets a little steeper as the path starts to climb and twist to the summit. From here, you’ll have views that stretch across the Macedon Ranges. The walk is roughly 1.8 kilometres return, but the real reward lies in standing among the weathered boulders, feeling the age and energy of the earth beneath your feet.

2. Macedon Ranges Walking Trail

Macedon Ranges Walking Trail camel's hump lookout — Walk to Camel’s Hump. (Image: Clair Derwort)

The Macedon Ranges Walking Trail traverses around 19 kilometres of forest and mountain landscapes. The full trail is a six-hour circuit, with most of the walk being a grade three; however, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. There are shorter walks that will take you through the tall mountain ash forests, to tranquil picnic areas, and sweeping views from Camels Hump and the Memorial Cross. The best times of year to head out are autumn, when the mountain turns into a tapestry of crimson and gold, and spring, when wildflowers brighten the trail.

3. Mount Alexander Traverse

Towering above the goldfields near Castlemaine, Mount Alexander is a granite giant that offers some great bushwalking trails. The Mount Alexander Traverse winds along the mountain’s rocky spine through dry eucalypt forest that opens up in sections to reveal beautiful panoramas across Loddon Valley and all the way to the distant Grampians. Once a site of ancient volcanic activity (and later a gathering place for the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the mountain’s granite tors are now quiet and create a beautiful, serene atmosphere for a moment of reflection while walking.

4. Murmuring Walk

Murmuring Walk daylesford hikes — Circle the picturesque Sanatorium Lake.

Located an easy drive from Daylesford, Murmuring Walk offers something a little different. Circling Sanatorium Lake, this free audio-guided walk aims to immerse you in the rhythms of Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country by blending the sounds of nature with a multi-layered soundtrack. There are two routes to explore while you listen: a shorter loop around the lake itself and a longer circuit that extends deeper into the woodland.

5. La Gerche Forest Walk

Located in Creswick, the La Gerche Forest Walk honours the legacy of John La Gerche, a 19th-century forester who championed the regeneration of the then gold-rush-ravaged land. Today, over 100 years later, his replanting efforts have grown into a living cathedral of towering pines, oaks, and native gums. As you meander along the 2.2-kilometre circuit, you’ll find interpretive panels along the way that help tell the story of La Gerche’s vision, so you can learn as you wander.

6. Sailors Falls Loop

Just outside Daylesford, Sailors Falls tumbles through a fern-lined gorge, fed by mineral springs. Thought to be named after the sailors who jumped ship to seek gold in the area during the 1850s gold rush, the loop walk begins at the car park and descends through a cool, shaded gully to the base of the falls. From here, you’ll make the climb back via the mineral springs. It’s a short but enchanting walk – about 1.5 kilometres in total, so make a day of it by packing a picnic to sit by the springs; you’ll feel worlds away from the city.

7. Paddys Ranges Loop Walk

Further north, the Paddys Ranges State Park loop reveals a different side of Victoria’s Heartland – dry forest, golden light and hints of a gold-rush past. This protected reserve is a stronghold of box-ironbark woodland, providing vital refuge for endangered species. In spring, the forest floor is awash with the colour of over 230 species of wildflowers, so a springtime walk is a must-do. As you walk the 4.5-kilometre loop trail, keep an eye out for remnants of old mine shafts and rusted relics from the prospectors who once sought their fortunes here.

8. Mount Franklin Summit Walk

An extinct volcano turned picnic ground, Mount Franklin (known as Lalgambook to the Dja Dja Wurrung people) is one of the region’s quiet marvels. The summit walk follows a narrow, winding path through native forest to the crater’s rim, where you’ll get glimpses of farmland and forest below. It’s a moderate climb – just over an hour return, so it can easily be done if you’re camping in the surrounding reserve for a weekend nature retreat.

The trails of Victoria’s Heartland offer a chance to reconnect with the landscape, local history and yourself. Start planning your next adventure at daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au.