Manly Spirits Co

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 8 November 2026

Australia has a booming craft spirits scene, with standout distilleries known for world-class single malt whiskies, innovative gins, and unique regional craft.

### Top Australian Distilleries by Region & Specialty

#### Victoria

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 Distillery Open Healesville VIC CallDirections Website Famous for defining modern Australian gin with iconic expressions like Rare Dry Gin, Spiced Negroni Gin, and Bloody Shiraz Gin. Stop by their Yarra Valley distillery door for tastings.

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 Distillery Closed Melbourne VIC CallDirections Website Set inside a tiny, heritage-listed 19th-century red-brick building in the heart of Melbourne, offering small-batch craft gins and bourbon-barrel-aged genevers.

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 Distillery Open Port Melbourne VIC CallDirections Website Globally acclaimed for maturing single malt whisky in Australian red wine barrels (shiraz, cabernet, and pinot noir), giving it a distinct, fruit-forward profile.

#### Tasmania

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 $20-140 Bar Open Hobart TAS CallDirections Website A pioneer of the modern Tasmanian whisky movement, celebrated for rich, complex single malts and barrel-aged releases.

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 Distillery Open Cambridge TAS CallDirections Website Consistently winning international acclaim and top marks for its single malt whiskies, including rare French oak and American oak single-cask expressions.

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Distillery CallDirections Website Australia's southernmost whisky distillery, utilizing pure spring water from Mount Arthur to craft high-altitude single malts and gins.

#### New South Wales

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 Distillery Open Brookvale NSW CallDirections Website Captures the coastal botanicals of Sydney's northern beaches in signature gins (like Coastal Citrus Gin), marine vodkas, and whiskies.

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 Distillery Open Pokolbin NSW Order CallDirections Website Known for immersive rural gin experiences, including seasonal release tasting flights paired with local tonics and garnishes.

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 Distillery Closed Marrickville NSW CallDirections Website A beloved inner-Sydney staple famous for vibrant, aromatic gins like the Strawberry Gin and Sydney Dry.

#### South Australia

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 Distillery Open McLaren Vale SA CallDirections Website Powerhouse juniper-forward distillers (creators of the punchy Juniper Freak Gin ) known for bold, intense flavor profiles.

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4.0 (24) Distillery Open Hay Valley SA Directions Website Innovative producers of sustainable Australian whiskies, alternative grain spirits, and creative botanical gins.

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### Where to Explore More

- Browse broader regional lineups and tasting packs via The Whisky List or check out curated collections at The Wine Providore.

If you share your preferred spirit (whisky, gin, rum, or vodka) and your state or city, I can recommend specific distillery door visits or bottle-shop picks near you.

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

The best Australian spirits brands right now span gin, whisky, rum, brandy, and vodka. A strong shortlist is:

- Four Pillars - Australia's benchmark contemporary gin producer; start with Rare Dry Gin. - Never Never Distilling Co. - bold, juniper-forward gin; its Triple Juniper Gin won Champion Australian Gin at the 2026 Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards. - Archie Rose - excellent Sydney-made gin and whisky; its Rye Malt Whisky won Best Grain Whisky in 2026. - Starward - Melbourne single malt whisky matured in red-wine barrels; Nova is a standout entry bottle. - Lark - pioneering Tasmanian single malt producer with highly sought-after releases. - Sullivan's Cove - ultra-premium Tasmanian whisky, particularly strong for collectors. - Fleurieu Distillery - South Australian whisky maker whose Tapestry won Best Australian Single Malt Whisky in 2026. - St Agnes - Australia's leading traditional brandy producer; its 15-year-old XO won Best Brandy and the distillery was named Champion Large Australian Distiller. - Nil Desperandum Rum - Queensland craft rum producer; The Triple Six won Best Rum in 2026. - Morris Rutherglen - highly regarded for rich, wine-influenced Australian single malt whisky, including Muscat-barrel-finished releases. - Manly Spirits Co. - Sydney producer known for maritime-style gins and vodka using coastal botanicals. - Brix Distillers - a leading Australian craft-rum brand based in Sydney.

Best picks by style: - Gin: Never Never Triple Juniper or Four Pillars Rare Dry - Whisky: Starward Nova for accessibility; Morris Rutherglen or Lark for depth - Brandy: St Agnes XO - Rum: Nil Desperandum The Triple Six - Vodka: Saint Felix Midnight Vodka, named Best Unflavoured Vodka in 2026