Victoria is officially Australia’s craft gin capital, with more than 100 producers calling the state home, including the country’s largest exporter, Four Pillars. How right I was. Another masterpiece in “less is more” when using Australian native botanicals, Sunset gin has 78 degrees gin as the base and Sacha has added bush apple, strawberry gum and rosella. From Tasmania comes McHenry Navy Strength Gin (57% ABV), a London dry style gin made using pure Tasmanian water from the distillery springs, juniper, citrus peel, coriander seeds, cardamom, orris root, star anise and native finger lime. Beautifully balanced notes of juniper and coriander with a burst of citrus give this gin its bold flavour and long finish. Use it in a Martini if you don’t mind the high proof and in Los Gintonic, with dry vermouth, bitter lemon tonic water and garnish with lime zest.

Focusing on differentiating the distillation process, Adelaide Hills Distillery uses a careful approach to crafting its spirits. Making the most use of pure Adelaide Hills water, the team here employ a vapour distillation method using a unique column and basket technique purposed towards retaining as much of the flavours and aromas of the various botanicals used. This will be the most important gin you drink, with profits of this gin helping to support communities affected by the 2019/20 bushfires.

Brookie’s Byron Dry Gin

Australian gin has surged onto the global stage, earning a reputation for its distinctive character and innovative use of local botanicals. As the craft distillery movement blossoms, Australian distillers are harnessing the unique flora and fauna of the continent to create gins that are as diverse and wild as the landscape itself. The launch complements Strange Nature’s partnership with Lotte Duty Free at Wellington International Airport in New Zealand and the brand’s presence across Lotte Duty Free’s multiple travel retail stores. Old Tom is a bit sweeter than your London Dry, thanks to its origins in the 18th and 19th centuries when gin was more pungent and thus needed to be masked by stronger and sweeter flavours — traditionally, liquorice. Locally, Four Pillars offer a delightful Old Tom style gin.

Never Never Distilling Co., McLaren Vale Photos by www.facebook.com/meaghancoles.nowandthenphotography www.nowandthenphotography.com.au There's a massive 25 botanicals in Brookie's, 17 of which are native to beautiful Byron Bay. You'll taste Byron sunrise finger limes, aniseed myrtle, cinnamon myrtle, macadamia, native river mint, and native raspberry—among other things. Sip it on its own and see if you can sniff out the rest. Definitely one of the best Australian gins for some coastal flavours. Shop here. The unique gin is infused with 13 organic botanicals and butterfly pea flower petals. Like magic, these pH-sensitive petals transform from their natural indigo to a rose pink hue when mixed with tonic water, lemon or lime juice. Ten years ago, there were 30 distilleries in Australia,” says ADA chief executive Paul McLeay. “There are now more than 300.” The made-it-big Victorian distillery has more limited editions and seasonal releases than you can shake a juniper shrub at, which can make it hard to know where to start.The distillers recommend you serve this versatile gin as a classic G&T, straight over ice or in a Negroni. Seppeltsfield Road Distillers Tiny Bear Distillery caught my eye this year with their unusual name and the unique branding of their 3 gins. I headed off to the distillery recently and was surprised to learn that they are making their base spirit from kale. Kale! Their 3 gins, ‘The Doctor’, ‘The Sailor’ and ‘The Gypsy’ are all 100% vapour-infused and have a different flavour profile and story behind them.

With distilleries producing unique gins, consumers are now spoilt for choice and can be left pondering which is best Australian gin to buy. We’ve put together a guide to the best Australian gin which includes various types such as a dry style, navy strength gin, oak-aged gin, and gins with a distinct flavour profiles.

12 of the best Australian gin distilleries in 2022

The launch is a particular coup for Lotte Duty Free as the expression is unavailable in the Australian domestic market.

Plymouth-style gin gets its name because it’s a very geographically specific style. Like Cognac can only be produced in and around Cognac, France, Plymouth-style gin can only be distilled in Plymouth, England. It’s known for its similar flavour profile to London dry gin. The difference is that the base ingredients are different, and it’s known to be even drier. Old Tom Southern Wild Distillery is the home of Dasher and Fisher gins. It has a lounge and bar serving a range of drinks, bar food and they also host regular live music acts here. What sets Australian gin apart is its botanical bill. Distillers forage for indigenous ingredients that speak of their terroir, such as the lemon myrtle, Tasmanian pepperberry, and the illusive finger lime. These are not mere exotic touches but form the heart and soul of the gin, giving it a character that cannot be replicated elsewhere. This deep connection to the land doesn't just end with the botanicals; even the water used in the distillation process is often sourced from pristine local springs, contributing to the gin’s unique taste profile.Mix Yarra Valley Grapes with gin and what do you get? The answer is Bloody Shiraz Gin and it’s bloody brilliant. They say a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet. This couldn’t be truer for Archie Rose Distilling Co. The New South Welsch ginfluencer is officially producing one of the world’s best juniper drops, with their gins earning them some serious gold bullion across the 2022 awards season. The Archie Rose Bone Dry Gin won best in Class and Best Overall Gin at the World Gin Awards 2022. They were also highly commended in the Master Distiller of the Year category. Diane: " Australian distillers can take advantage of the unique botanicals found in the landscape which impart flavours that can't be replicated elsewhere. For example, our favourite new thing is the Tasmanian Pepper Berry and we have revised all our blends to substitute this delicate, flinty and resinous pepper for the traditional peppers we were able to source early on. "