Ester Spirits

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 18 October 2026

Australia produces top-rated, award-winning spirits across whisky, gin, rum, and vodka. Recent major competition winners highlight the country's best craft distillers:

### Whisky

- Tapestry - Fleurieu Distillery (South Australia): Named Best Australian Single Malt Whisky at the 2026 Australian International Spirits Awards. - Rye Malt Whisky - Archie Rose Distilling Co. (New South Wales): Won Best Grain Whisky and the Consistency of Excellence Award. - Don Quixote - Fleurieu Distillery (South Australia): Took out Best Whisky and Premier's Spirit Award honors at the Tasting Australia Spirit Awards.

### Gin

- Triple Juniper Gin - Never Never Distilling Co. (South Australia): Honored as Champion Australian Gin and Best London Dry Gin. - Troppo Yuzu Gin - Northern Distilling (Northern Territory): Named Best New World / Contemporary Gin. - Signature - Nine Circles Distillery, Australian Distilling Co. Navy Gin, and Turner Stillhouse Three Cuts: Scored a massive 98 points at the International Wine & Spirits Competition. - Old Tom - Ester Spirits (New South Wales): Crowned Best in Show and Best in Class Old Tom at the Australian Gin Awards.

### Vodka & Rum / Other Spirits

- Midnight Vodka - Saint Felix Distillery (Victoria): Awarded Best Unflavoured Vodka. - SUNCHASER Dirty Vodka - Oakburn Distillery (Victoria): Awarded Best Flavoured Vodka. - Australian Rum - Brix Distillery (New South Wales): Won Best Rum at the Tasting Australia Spirit Awards.

If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:

- Which spirit type you prefer (e.g., gin, single malt whisky, rum) - Your flavor profile (e.g., smoky, floral, spiced, citrus) - Your approximate budget

Recorded answer text · ChatGPT · 18 October 2026

# Best craft spirits brands in Australia

Australia has a fantastic craft spirits scene, from world-class gin and innovative native-botanical liqueurs to premium whisky, rum and brandy. If you're looking for brands worth knowing, I'd start with the established craft leaders, then explore the smaller producers earning recognition at the 2026 Australian International Spirits Awards. www.australia.comwww.melbourneroyal.com.au

## 10 Australian craft spirits brands to know

!Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin 700mL Bottle - Web Browser Support

1\. Four Pillars - Victoria

(Gin specialist)

One of Australia's best-known modern gin producers, based in the Yarra Valley. Known for Rare Dry Gin, Bloody Shiraz Gin and a strong cocktail culture.

Best for: premium gin, gifts and cocktail bars.

Official website

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!Starward - Whisky Estate

2\. Starward - Melbourne, Victoria

A contemporary Australian whisky brand known for maturing whisky in red-wine barrels, giving it a distinctive fruit-forward character.

Best for: whisky newcomers, premium gifting and international appeal.

Official website

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!Signature Range

3\. Archie Rose - Sydney, NSW

A versatile craft producer spanning gin, vodka, whisky and other spirits. It combines a strong design identity with experimental distilling.

Best for: contemporary premium spirits and design-led retail.

Official website

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!Never Never Triple Juniper Gin 700ml | Award-Winning Australian Gin - Parkhill Cellars

4\. Never Never Distilling Co - South Australia

A gin-focused distillery with a strong reputation for bold juniper character. Its Triple Juniper Gin won Champion Australian Gin at the 2026 Australian International Spirits Awards. drinkmelbourne.com.au

Best for: gin enthusiasts and premium bar programs.

Official website

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!Lark Distillery Classic Cask Single Malt Whisky 500ml | Buy Online | Cheapest Liquor

5\. Lark Distillery - Tasmania

A pioneering name in Australian single malt whisky, with premium bottlings that showcase Tasmania's whisky-making heritage.

Best for: luxury gifting and premium whisky collections.

Official website

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!Desert Lime is Fruiting - So Gimlets Are In Season. - Applewood Distillery

6\. Applewood Distillery - Adelaide Hills, SA

Known for inventive spirits using Australian native ingredients, including Okar, an Australian-style aperitif.

Best for: distinctive local flavours and modern aperitivo culture.

Official website

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!NIL Desperandum - Premier Australian Rum

7\. Nil Desperandum Rum - Queensland

An artisanal rum producer recognised as Champion Medium Australian Distiller at the 2026 Australian International Spirits Awards. www.australia.comwww.melbourneroyal.com.au

Best for: premium rum, sipping and rum-focused bars.

Official website

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!Expand

8\. St Agnes Distillery - South Australia

A heritage producer with an impressive premium brandy range. Its XO 15-Year-Old won Best Brandy at the 2026 awards. www.australia.comwww.melbourneroyal.com.au

Best for: after-dinner sipping and high-end gifts.

Official website

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!Maidenii Dry Vermouth (750ml) | Nicks Wine Merchants

9\. Maidenii - Victoria

A distinctive Australian vermouth producer that brings local botanical character to aperitifs and classic cocktails. It was named Champion Small Australian Distiller at the 2026 awards. www.australia.comwww.melbourneroyal.com.au

Best for: bartenders, vermouth drinkers and aperitivo menus.

Official website

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!Kangaroo Island Spirits Wild Gin 700ml | Adelaide Airport | Aelia Duty Free Shopping

10\. Kangaroo Island Spirits - South Australia

An early Australian craft distilling name making handcrafted gin, vodka and liqueurs, with a strong sense of place and local character. www.australia.comwww.melbourneroyal.com.au

Best for: regional provenance, boutique gifting and tourism.

Official website

## Other award-winning craft producers worth exploring

These smaller or more specialised names are particularly interesting if you're looking beyond the established brands.

| Brand | Specialty | 2026 recognition | |--------|--------|--------| | Fleurieu Distillery | Single malt whisky | Tapestry won Best Australian Single Malt Whisky. drinkmelbourne.com.au | | Burdekin Rum | Cane spirits and rum | Won Best Cane Spirit. drinkmelbourne.com.au | | Ester Spirits | Vermouth, bitters and gin | Alternativo Aperitivo won Best Bitter or Vermouth. drinkmelbourne.com.au | | Anther Distillery | Contemporary craft spirits | Recognised for innovation in the Australian Distillers Association's 2026 industry awards. www.australiandistillers.org.au | | Callington Mill Distillery | Tasmanian whisky | Recognised for sustainability and responsibility in the 2026 industry awards. www.australiandistillers.org.au |

For a broader look at Australian distillers and regional producers, see Tourism Australia's distillery guide\.

## Which brands are best for your purpose?

My shortlist would depend on what you're trying to achieve\:

- Premium craft gin\: Four Pillars, Never Never. - Premium Australian whisky\: Starward, Lark, Fleurieu Distillery. - Rum and cane spirits\: Nil Desperandum, Burdekin Rum. - Native Australian ingredients\: Applewood Distillery, Kangaroo Island Spirits. - Vermouth and aperitifs\: Maidenii, Ester Spirits. - Premium brandy\: St Agnes.

Are you researching these brands for personal drinking, a retail bottle shop, a bar or restaurant, or a business opportunity such as distribution or wholesale? I can narrow the list to the most relevant brands and identify emerging players, price positioning and commercial opportunities.

Recorded answer text · Perplexity · 18 October 2026

Best all-rounder: Ester Spirits The Dry Gin. Its clean, layered profile works well in Negronis, Martinis, gin-and-tonics, and other classic cocktails.

Other strong choices:

- Ounce Gin Bold - best for bracing Martinis and refreshing Tom Collins cocktails. - Patient Wolf Melbourne Dry Gin - grapefruit, juniper, spice, and floral notes; excellent in Negronis or fruity cocktails. - Never Never Triple Juniper Gin - rich, distinctive flavor that stands up especially well in G&Ts. - Manly Spirits Lilly Pilly Gin - bright citrus and aromatic botanicals for an easy-drinking G&T.

For a cocktail night with varied drinks, choose Ester Spirits The Dry Gin; for a gin-forward menu centered on Martinis and Negronis, choose Ounce Gin Bold.