The West Winds Gin

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 8 November 2026

!100 Best Spirits and Liqueurs in Australia and Oceania... Australia is home to a thriving craft and commercial spirits industry, renowned globally for its innovative use of native botanicals and world-class single malt whiskies.

### Gin

- Four Pillars (Yarra Valley, VIC): One of Australia's most awarded and famous gin producers, celebrated for its Rare Dry Gin infused with native Tasmanian pepperberry and lemon myrtle. - Archie Rose Distilling Co. (Sydney, NSW): An independent urban distillery famous for its Signature Dry Gin featuring a bold juniper backbone and native Australian botanicals. - Brookie's (Byron Bay, NSW): Known for Byron Dry Gin, showcasing a rainforest-to-bottle ethos utilizing local sub-tropical native botanicals. - The West Winds Gin (WA): Recognized for distinct, aromatic profiles that capture the coastal and outback essence of Western Australia.

### Whisky

- Starward (Melbourne, VIC): Famous for single malt whiskies matured in Australian red wine barrels (like the Starward Nova), giving them a rich, fruit-forward character. - Morris Whisky (Rutherglen, VIC): Built on a historic winemaking legacy, producing rich single malts finished in premium wine and-or fortified barrels. - Sullivan's Cove (Hobart, TAS): A pioneer of the Tasmanian single malt movement that has repeatedly won top international whisky accolades.

### Rum & Brandy

- Bundaberg Rum (Bundaberg, QLD): Australia's most iconic and historic commercial dark rum producer, deeply rooted in the nation's sugar-cane history. - St Agnes (Renmark, SA): Celebrated for long-aged, world-class Australian brandies, including its prestigious XO and Imperial expressions. - Lobodos (Adelaide Hills, SA): Crafted by Lobo, this is a standout local play on French Calvados using wood-matured apple brandy.

### Vodka & Other Spirits

- Fire Drum Vodka (TAS): Produced by the team behind Sullivan's Cove using Tasmanian barley, offering a rich, creamy, and earthy profile. - Australian Distilling Co. (National): Known for contemporary London Dry and unique Navy Strength gins that put a distinct regional stamp on classic styles.

Gin lovers and spirit enthusiasts praise the distinct integration of local landscapes and wild ingredients in Australian bottles:“Infused with native botanicals such as Tasmanian pepperberry and lemon myrtle, this gin offers a harmonious blend of citrus and spice, creating a refreshing and aromatic experience.” , or shopping for a gift with a particular budget in mind?

Recorded answer text · ChatGPT · 25 October 2026

Australia has a fantastic independent distilling scene, from Tasmanian single malt whisky and Victorian craft gin to Western Australian whisky made with local barley and coastal influences.

If you're looking for the best independent Australian distilleries, I'd start with producers that combine distinctive spirits, genuine local character, strong reputations and a commitment to craft. I've included whisky specialists as well as distilleries making excellent gin, rum and other spirits.

## Australian distilleries worth knowing

!Limeburners Peated Small Batch | Kent Street Cellars

1\. Limeburners - Western Australia

(Best WA whisky pick)

A serious Australian whisky producer from Albany in the Great Southern region. Worth exploring for distinctive single malts, local character and more mature, complex expressions.

Try\: its core single malt range and special cask releases.

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2\. Sullivans Cove - Tasmania

One of Australia's benchmark names for premium single malt. Particularly compelling if you enjoy rich, elegant whisky with layers of oak, fruit and spice. Limited cask releases can be expensive and difficult to find.

Try\: its French oak and American oak cask expressions.

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!Liquorland | Buy Beer, Wine, Spirits & Ciders at Great Prices

3\. Whipper Snapper Distillery - Perth, WA

One of the most interesting names for locally made whisky. Its approach to Australian grains and approachable, flavourful spirits makes it worth knowing, especially if you prefer to support smaller Perth producers.

Try\: Upshot for cocktails, or its single malt and limited cask releases for sipping. independentspirits.com.au

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!Truly Australian Spirits. Handcrafted Whisky and Gin.

4\. Backwoods Distilling Co. - Victoria

An excellent independent craft producer from the Victorian High Country. It works with Australian grains, local casks and native botanicals, with both single malt and rye whisky in its range.

Try\: its single malt or rye releases. corowadistilling.com.au

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

5\. Never Never Distilling Co. - South Australia

A standout for gin lovers, known for bold juniper character and well-structured spirits. It has also demonstrated impressive consistency in competitions; its Southern Strength Gin won its class at the 2026 Australian Gin Awards.

Try\: Triple Juniper Gin or Southern Strength Gin. australianginawards.com.au

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!Distillery Tour and Guided Whisky Tasting Tasmania | ClassBento

6\. Old Kempton Distillery - Tasmania

A good choice for people who enjoy small-scale whisky production and maturation in different casks. Based in a historic coaching inn in the Coal River Valley, it makes single malt whisky using Tasmanian malted barley.

Try\: its Pinot cask and Solera cask single malts. independentspirits.com.au

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!375ml, 750ml, 1000ml Glass Bottle for Wine, Vodka, Wiskey, Printing Glass Bottle, Deep Processing Glass Bottle - Glass Bottle and Wine Bottle

7\. The West Winds Gin - Margaret River, WA

A great expression of Western Australian gin, blending classic juniper with native botanicals. Its range offers both traditional gin drinkers and people seeking something distinctly Australian.

Try\: The Sabre for a classic style or The Cutlass for a stronger, more adventurous gin. independentspirits.com.au

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

8\. Hoochery Distillery - Kununurra, WA

The pick for Australian rum. Its remote Kimberley location and use of locally grown sugar cane give it a strong sense of place, and it offers a welcome alternative to the whisky-and-gin crowd.

Try\: its Ord River rum range. www.australia.com

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!Bellarine Distillery Superb Fairy Wren Single Malt Whisky 700ml

9\. The Bellarine Distillery - Victoria

A family-owned producer worth a look if you want to explore both whisky and gin. Its Whiskery venue combines tastings, cocktails and local food, making it a particularly appealing distillery visit.

Try\: its award-winning single malt whisky. www.bellarinedistillery.com.au

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!Applewood Distillery Okar Island Bitter 750ml

10\. Applewood Distillery - Adelaide Hills, SA

For adventurous drinkers, Applewood is one of the most interesting producers exploring native Australian ingredients in contemporary spirits and liqueurs.

Try\: Okar, its Australian native-botanical take on an Italian bitter liqueur, or its gin range. www.australia.com

## My picks by category

| If you want… | Start with | |--------|--------| | Best Western Australian whisky | Limeburners | | Premium Tasmanian single malt | Sullivans Cove | | Perth-made whisky | Whipper Snapper | | Australian craft rye whisky | Backwoods | | Exceptional independent gin | Never Never | | Small-batch Tasmanian whisky | Old Kempton | | Australian rum | Hoochery | | Native-botanical spirits | Applewood |

One important distinction\: “independent” can refer to ownership, small-batch production or simply being outside the major global spirits groups. Ownership structures can change, so this is a curated list of craft-oriented producers rather than a verified legal-ownership ranking.

If you're buying bottles rather than planning distillery visits, I'd narrow the shortlist further by spirit type and budget.

Recorded answer text · Perplexity · 20 September 2026

If you want the best Australian gin brands, the most consistently recommended names across recent roundups are Four Pillars, Never Never Distilling Co., Archie Rose, Adelaide Hills Distillery, and The West Winds.

A practical short list, based on repeated appearances in expert picks, is:

- Four Pillars - often cited for standout bottles like Bloody Shiraz Gin and its core Dry Gin. - Never Never Distilling Co. - frequently ranked near the top, especially for Triple Juniper Gin. - Archie Rose Distilling Co. - regularly included in best-of lists, with Signature Dry Gin a common pick. - Adelaide Hills Distillery - known for 78° Classic Gin and strong national recognition. - The West Winds Gin - appears in classic-style and martini-focused recommendations. - Manly Spirits Co. - repeatedly included in Australian best-gin lists. - Patient Wolf - mentioned among reliable Australian gin producers. - Hickson House - featured in recent “best gin in Australia” roundups.

If you want the most award-heavy or prestige-focused option, Archie Rose is especially notable because it is described as one of Australia's most highly awarded distilleries. If you want a safe crowd-pleaser, Four Pillars and Never Never are the names that show up most often across multiple lists.

If you want, I can also turn this into: - a top 10 ranked list - the best Australian gin by style like dry, citrus, or flavoured - a best-value buying guide