The recent worldwide gin resurgence has led to a rise in Australian craft gin. Not only have we seen a growth in new and existing distilleries, variations of the juniper-based craft spirit offer the consumer a wider choice, be it within a gin brand or a style of gin.
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.
Presented in alphabetical order, here are the top 10 Australian gin you should be drinking now.
1. Archie Rose Signature Dry Gin
Archie Rose Signature Dry Gin (42% ABV) hails from Sydney’s first distillery in over 160 years. Fourteen botanicals are distilled separately in a copper pot still, using a mix of traditional and Australian native botanicals such as lemon myrtle, dorrigo pepperleaf, river mint and Australian blood limes. Pronounced juniper, balanced with citrus and peppercorn make this gin work very well in a G&T and any stirred cocktail. Archie Rose Gin also makes a perfect Martini with a twist.
700ml; RRP $74.00
2. The Broadside Navy Strength Gin
The third installment from the West Winds Gin in WA’s Margaret River is one to be applauded for being the first umami-based Australian gin. The Broadside Navy Strength Gin (58% ABV) gets its flavour profile from sea parsley, lemon verbena and Margaret River seawater. It’s bottled at navy strength so it’s not for the faint-hearted but makes a great dirty martini or simply sipped neat.
750ml bottle; RRP $110.00
3. Forty Spotted Rare Tasmanian Gin
Lark Distillery in Tasmania produces Forty Spotted Rare Tasmanian Gin (40% ABV), named after Tasmania’s rarest bird. Traditional botanicals are steeped in neutral cane spirit and include juniper berry, coriander and lemon peel as well as the rare Tasmanian pepperberry which is responsible for the characteristic spicy notes. A versatile gin for anything from a G&T, Martini, Gibson, Negroni or simply sipped neat.
700ml bottle; RRP $69.50.
4. Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin
Four Pillars have just opened a new distillery in Victoria expanding its production. Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin (58.8% ABV) uses fresh ‘Judy’s Everbearing’ finger limes along with organic oranges to create a punchy navy strength gin that’s very clean and bursting with citrus and coriander notes. Star anise, fresh ginger and fresh turmeric contribute to its earthy notes and make it a fine gin to use in a Dirty Martini or in a punchy gin and tonic.
700ml bottle; RRP $95.00
5. Ink Gin
With is distinctive purple colour, Ink Gin (43% ABV) changes colour when tonic is added. But this is no gimmick. The natural colour comes from a post-distillation infusion of butterfly pea flower petals. Produced at Husk Plantation Distillery in Northern NSW, Ink Gin s a dry style of gin with pronounced citrus notes along with pepperberry and spice.
Enjoy it in a properly chilled Ink Gin Martini with finger lime as garnish.
700ml bottle; RRP $79.00
6. Ironbark Distillery 313 Dry Wattleseed Gin
Reg Papps, founder and distiller of the Ironbark Distillery in North Richmond in NSW has created a unique Australian gin that takes the descriptor “a sipping gin” to a new level. 313 Dry Wattleseed Gin (40% ABV) is made from a neutral cane spirit, locally sourced water, filtered through carbon and bottled by hand. Botanicals include juniper, cardamom, coriander, lemon zest, vanilla and wattleseed which give makes the gin linger long on the palate with a delicious nuttiness. Sip it neat, in a G&T or add to lemonade and garnish with cucumber, lemon or lime zest.
750 ml bottle; RRP Price: $79.00
7. McHenry’s Navy Strength Gin
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.
700 ml bottle; RRP Price: $90.00
8. Melbourne Gin Company Dry Gin
Distiller and winemaker Andrew Marks created this gin out of a love of Martinis. mgc dry gin (42%) is produced in Gembrook using grape spirit as a base, rainwater from Gembrook in the Yarra Ranges and is non-chill filtered. Eleven botanicals make up the gin: juniper, coriander seeds, local macadamia, sandalwood, honey lemon myrtle, organic navel oranges, angelica root, orris root and cassia bark. Each botanical is distilled separately in a copper pot bain-marie alembic still traditionally used for perfume so that they retain their delicate character. mgc has a good balance of juniper and coriander, and a crisp, clean palate. Enjoy it in a Martini, Negroni, G&T and French 75 cocktail.
700 ml bottle; RRP Price: $70.00
9. Poor Toms Gin
From Sydney’s first dedicated gin distillery comes Poor Toms Gin produced in the Sydney’s suburb of Marrickville. Two friends, Jesse Kennedy and Griffin Blumer started making gin in their kitchen before opening the inner west distillery. Poor Toms Gin (41.3%) is handcrafted in small batches using Australian wheat spirit as the base. The botanicals are a mix of traditional and native ingredients: juniper, coriander seeds, angelica root, cinnamon, cardamom, cubeb pepper, fresh green apples, lemon myrtle, chamomile and native strawberry gum leaf. Fresh and floral with some juniper presence, crisp on the palate with only a hint of sweetness, Poor Toms Dry Gin makes a delicious and sessionable G&T garnished with strawberries.
700 ml bottle; RRP Price: $70.00
10. Settlers Oak Aged Gin
From McLaren Vale in South Australia comes Settlers Gin, crafted from a grape spirit base and a range of botanicals that are steam vapour distilled and blended. They produce an impressive gin portfolio and their Settlers Oak Aged Gin is a unique spirit. The botanicals in Settlers Oak Aged Gin (43% ABV) include juniper, angelica root, coriander, caraway, cucumber and muntrie berries that are native to South Australia. The gin is aged for 6 weeks in new French oak, and when combined with angelica root, give it structure and a hint of smoke. Dry and oaky on the palate, Settlers Oak Aged Gin has a surprising briny character on the finish. Owner and Distiller Rowland Short recommends it neat with oysters or in a Dirty Martini.
700 ml bottle; RRP Price: $80.00
Looking for a tonic for your gin? Check out our Tonic Water Review.
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