Hellyers Road Distillery

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 8 November 2026

Australia produces some of the most acclaimed single malt, rye, and blended whiskies in the world, largely driven by craft pot stills and maturation in local wine, sherry, and fortified wine casks.

### Top Australian Whisky Brands & Distilleries

- Starward (Melbourne, VIC): Famed for vibrant, fruit-forward single malts and blended whiskies (like the accessible Two-Fold and Fortis ) matured heavily in Australian red wine and apera casks. - Lark Distillery (Pontville & Hobart, TAS): Widely recognized as the pioneer of modern Tasmanian whisky, known for complex single malts, small-batch releases, and custom cask finishes. - Sullivan's Cove (Cambridge, TAS): A world-renowned name that put Australian whisky on the global map after winning Best Single Malt World Whisky. - Morris Whisky (Rutherglen, VIC): Tapping into decades of fortified wine-making heritage, Morris crafts rich, budget-friendly Muscat and Tokay barrel-matured single malts with distinct notes of dried fruit and brown sugar. - Archie Rose Distilling Co. (Sydney, NSW): One of Australia's most advanced urban distilleries, producing innovative single malts, ryes, and unique single-paddock releases. - Hellyers Road (Burnie, TAS): A cornerstone of the Tasmanian industry winning high honors like the World Whiskies Awards for aged expressions like their 21-Year-Old Peat Cask. - The Gospel (Melbourne, VIC): An acclaimed specialist in Australian rye whisky, celebrated for styles like their Solera Rye. - Whipper Snapper (Perth, WA): Known for approachable, award-winning Western Australian whiskies including their signature Upshot.

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### What Fans Say Users across Australian whisky communities highlight different strengths depending on flavor preference and budget:Whisky enthusiasts note a split between the rich, fortified-wine sweetness of Victorian makers and the lighter, maritime or red-wine cask styles of Tasmania and Melbourne.“For affordable, flavourful, uniquely Australian malt whisky, Starward's the benchmark. They're currently blazing a trail for Australian whisky on the international stage...” ![ Oz Whisky Review · 6 years ago]( To explore or purchase bottles online, you can browse specialist collections like The Old Barrelhouse or general selections at The Whisky Company.If you'd like me to narrow this down, let me know:

- Your budget per bottle (e.g., under $100 vs. premium/collectible) - Your preferred flavor profile (e.g., sweet/wine-cask, smoky/peated, or spicy rye)

Recorded answer text · ChatGPT · 8 November 2026

Australia has an excellent craft distilling scene, with particularly strong producers in Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. The best ones go well beyond gin, producing world-class single malt whisky, rum, vodka, brandy and experimental native-botanical spirits.

I've put together a shortlist based on product quality, awards, innovation, reputation and the quality of the distillery experience.

# 15 Australian craft distilleries worth knowing

## 1\. Standout Australian distilleries

![Never Never Distilling: Making Gin for the Juniper Freaks - 88 Bamboo](

1\. Never Never Distilling Co.

(Award-winning gin)

McLaren Vale, South Australia

One of Australia's leading modern gin producers. Known for bold botanical profiles, exceptional distillation and innovative gin styles.

Try\: Triple Juniper Gin, Juniper Freak and Southern Strength.

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!Whisky Distillery in Port Melbourne | Starward

2\. Starward Distillery

(Leading Australian whisky)

Port Melbourne, Victoria

A pioneer of contemporary Australian whisky, using Australian wine barrels to create distinctive, approachable whiskies.

Try\: Nova, Two-Fold and Solera.

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!Shop Single Cask Whisky Batch No. 1: Single Malt Whisky

3\. Archie Rose Distilling Co.

Rosebery, Sydney, NSW

Highly regarded for its experimental approach to whisky, gin and other spirits. Strong emphasis on ingredient provenance and individual spirit character.

Try\: Signature Dry Gin and Rye Malt Whisky.

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![Blue Lake Lodge - Callington Mill Distillery](

4\. Callington Mill Distillery

(2026 spirits award winner)

Oatlands, Tasmania

A beautiful heritage distillery producing premium Tasmanian whisky and gin. Particularly interesting for its historic setting and modern distilling operation.

Try\: Poltergeist Citrus Gin and its single malt whiskies.

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!Old Young's Distillery

5\. Old Young's Distillery

Swan Valley, Western Australia

Creative, unconventional spirits with a strong personality. Particularly good for gin, vodka and unusual flavour combinations.

Try\: 1829 Gin and Pavlova Vodka.

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!Kangaroo Island Spirits - Cygnet River, Food and Drink | South Au...

6\. Kangaroo Island Spirits

Kangaroo Island, South Australia

One of Australia's established boutique gin pioneers, with handcrafted spirits, native botanicals and a lovely cellar-door experience.

Try\: O Gin and its botanical gin range.

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![Classic London Dry Gin - Handcrafted Tasmanian Gin | McHenry Distillery - McHenry Tasmania](

7\. McHenry Distillery

Port Arthur, Tasmania

Australia's southernmost whisky distillery, producing whisky, gin and vodka. Its location and fresh spring water are central to its identity.

Try\: 10 Year Old French Oak Whisky and barrel-aged gin.

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!Breweries + Distilleries - Visit Mornington Peninsula.

8\. Chief's Son Distillery

Somerville, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

A family-owned whisky specialist with a strong focus on Australian single malt and small-batch production.

Try\: The Tanist and 900 Pure Malt.

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!Kununurra's Hoochery Distillery wins best Australian rum at industry awards | The Kimberley Echo

9\. Hoochery Distillery

Kununurra, Western Australia

A genuinely distinctive Australian rum producer using locally grown sugar cane. One of the country's most interesting regional distilling stories.

Try\: Ord River Rum.

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!Belgrove Rye Whisky - Reservas Tequila

10\. Belgrove Distillery

Kempton, Tasmania

An exceptionally interesting small farm-based producer specialising in estate-grown rye whisky, with a hands-on paddock-to-bottle philosophy.

Try\: Estate rye whisky.

## 2\. More boutique distilleries worth exploring

!a few outstanding cocktails with our macadamia gin. - Applewood Distillery

Applewood Distillery

Adelaide Hills, SA

Particularly interesting for native Australian ingredients and unusual liqueurs, including Okar.

!Gin Collection | Gin Gifts | Manly Spirits Co.

Manly Spirits Co.

Brookvale, NSW

Coastal-inspired gin and spirits, with native botanicals and excellent tasting experiences.

!Tas Rum & Whisky Double Set - Barrel Swap Releases w/Derwent Distillery | New Norfolk Distillery

New Norfolk Distillery

New Norfolk, Tasmania

A particularly exciting name in Australian craft rum, with internationally recognised spiced rum.

![About Us - Gin & Brandy Distillery In Mornington - Bass & Flinders Distillery](

Bass & Flinders Distillery

Dromana, Victoria

Boutique brandy, gin and other spirits with a strong regional identity and cellar-door experience.

!NIL Desperandum - Premier Australian Rum

Nil Desperandum Rum

Queensland

A standout craft rum producer. Its Triple Six took Best Rum at the 2026 Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards.

## 3\. Some of the strongest recent award performers

The 2026 awards provide a useful independent reference point.

| Distillery | Recognition | |--------|--------| | Never Never | Best London Dry Gin - Melbourne Royal | | Archie Rose | Best Grain Whisky - Melbourne Royal | | Fleurieu Distillery | Best Australian Single Malt Whisky | | Nil Desperandum | Best Rum | | Prohibition Liquor Co. | Best Contemporary Gin - Australian Gin Awards | | Blackwattle Distilling Co. | 2026 Australian Gin Awards Best in Show | | Callington Mill | Recognised for its award-winning gin range |

Sources: www.melbourneroyal.com.auaustralianginawards.com.auwww.drinkstrade.com.au

## 4\. Where I'd concentrate on a distillery visit

Given the concentration of quality producers, these are my three favourite regional distilling destinations\:

!Callington Mill Experiences - Oatlands | Tour | Discover Tasmania

Tasmania

Arguably Australia's most compelling whisky destination. Callington Mill, McHenry, Belgrove and Hellyers Road make a great starting list.

!Bass & Flinders, a Gin Distillery on the Mornington Peninsula | Broadsheet

Mornington Peninsula and Victoria

Starward, Chief's Son, Bass & Flinders, and smaller producers such as Kilderkin offer an excellent variety.

!Never Never - Visit the Distillery

South Australia

Never Never, Kangaroo Island Spirits, Applewood and Prohibition Liquor Co. are particularly interesting.

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## 5\. My recommendation

If I were putting together a serious Australian craft distillery shortlist, I'd prioritise\:

- Best overall gin producer\: Never Never. - Best contemporary whisky\: Starward. - Most interesting experimental distiller\: Archie Rose. - Best Tasmanian whisky destination\: Callington Mill. - Most interesting craft rum\: Nil Desperandum. - Best small-scale whisky producer\: Belgrove. - Best native-botanical approach\: Applewood.

One question that would help refine this list\: Are you primarily interested in distilleries as potential business opportunities (contract distilling, private label, partnerships and sourcing), or as exceptional craft producers whose products and production techniques are worth studying?

That distinction would change which Australian distilleries I'd put at the very top.

Recorded answer text · Perplexity · 8 November 2026

Some of the best Australian spirits brands to explore are:

- Starward - Melbourne whisky matured in red-wine barrels; a strong starting point for modern Australian whisky. - Sullivans Cove - Tasmanian single malt whisky with a world-class reputation, including a 2014 World's Best Single Malt title. - Lark - Tasmanian whisky producer known for premium, richly styled single malts. - Four Pillars - One of Australia's leading contemporary gin brands, especially its Rare Dry Gin. - Archie Rose - Sydney distillery producing gin, whisky, vodka and other spirits, with a particularly strong gin range. - Never Never Distilling Co. - Adelaide-based producer best known for intensely juniper-led gin, including Triple Juniper Gin. - Morris of Rutherglen - Victorian whisky producer making distinctive fortified- and wine-cask-finished whiskies. - Hellyers Road - Established Tasmanian whisky brand offering approachable and peated single malts. - Bundaberg Rum - Iconic Queensland rum made from the region's sugar industry; ideal for classic mixed drinks. - Mr Black - Premium Australian coffee liqueur, well suited to Espresso Martinis and dessert cocktails. - St Agnes - Long-established South Australian brandy producer with a broad aged-brandy range. - The Hoochery - Western Australian rum producer and an important name in Australia's rum history.

Best picks by category:

| Category | Recommended brands | |---|---| | Whisky | Starward, Sullivans Cove, Lark, Morris | | Gin | Four Pillars, Archie Rose, Never Never | | Rum | Bundaberg, The Hoochery, JimmyRum | | Brandy | St Agnes | | Vodka | 666 Vodka | | Liqueur | Mr Black |

For a compact tasting lineup, choose Starward Two-Fold, Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin, Never Never Triple Juniper Gin, Morris Rutherglen whisky, and Mr Black.