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Forty Spotted - TAS
12 of the best – and most awarded – Australian gins and distilleries in 2022
Australia’s gin scene has taken flight. With more than 300 aussie distilleries, here’s our guide to the best, and most awarded, Australian gins for 2022.
When it comes to gin, Australia’s botanical scene has gone from strength to [navy] strength. Barely a decade ago, you could count on two hands how many locally-produced gins were on the market. Fast forward 10 years and the local gin-dustry has exploded, with some 300 distilleries – producing more than 800 craft gins – flooding the domestic market.
And the world is starting to take notice. Australian gins are earning double-gold medals and being crowned best in class at both local and international spirits competitions. Australian makers are being named master distillers and Australian brands are being recognised as global leaders of innovation, sustainability and even contemporary style.
The success of Australia’s gins, both domestically and abroad, has seen the industry undergo a 1,000 per cent growth spurt, according to the Australian Distillers Association (ADA).
“Ten years ago, there were 30 distilleries in Australia,” says ADA chief executive Paul McLeay. “There are now more than 300.”
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.
Whether you're looking for the perfect gin to use in your Southside Fizz or Peachy Keen cocktails, or you want to stock your home bar with local flavours, with literally hundreds of highly accoladed local gins on the market, there is no shortage of options for the discerning juniper drinker.
Discover some of the country's top tipples with our guide to the highest-rated and most-awarded Aussie gins and gin distilleries of 2022. Or, if you prefer to learn by experience, you can sip your way through a selection of award-winning gins and other local spirits at Bourke St Green.
Four Pillars is one of the country's most accoladed gin distilleries. Image: Visit Victoria
12 of the best Australian gin distilleries in 2022
Never Never Distilling Co - SA
This South Australia distillery is fast become one of the county’s gin darlings. Never Never Distilling Co started four years ago as a passion project between mates and the McLaren Vale-based brand is now producing some of the country’s best gins. Their Triple Juniper Gin was awarded World's Best London Dry Gin at the 2022 World Gin Awards, while distiller Tim Boast was awarded Master Distiller of the Year.
Never Never’s Southern Strength Gin and Juniper Freak Gin both won Double Gold at the coveted San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2022 – nicknamed the Oscars of Booze’ – while their Argo Gin scored a whopping 98 points at the International Wine Spirits Competition 2022. The medal haul continued at The Gin Masters 2022, with Never Never winning a Master medal for their contemporary Dark Series Oyster Shell Gin.
Four Pillars - VIC
When it comes to award-winning distilleries, Four Pillars needs no introduction. Since pouring onto the scene nearly a decade ago, the Healesville-based distillery has become one of world’s leading gin producers – even being declared as such at the International Wine Spirits Competition, in London, in 2019. The brand’s ori-gin-al baby, the Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin, consistently ranks among the world’s best, having won gold, double gold and even Master medals at a plethora of industry competitions since it was first produced in 2014.
The latest additions to their already stacked trophy cabinet include being named Brand Innovator of the Year and Distiller of the Year at the World Gin Awards 2022. Four Pillars also picked up Master medals for its Spiced Negroni, Rare Dry, Rarest Dry and Bloody Shiraz gins at The Gin Masters 2022, as well as for its Four Pillars x Yarra Yering Single Vineyard Underhill Bloody Shiraz gin.
Archie Rose stacked up the gold over this year's awards season. Image: Facebook
Archie Rose - NSW
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.
The accolades keep coming with their Distiller’s Strength Gin winning Double Gold medals at both the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and 2022 New York World Spirits Competition. Their Signature Dry and Distiller’s Strength gins were also awarded gold at The Gin Masters 2022.
Cape Byron Distillery - NSW
If sustainable gin tickles your tastebuds, look no further than Cape Byron Distillery, the home of Brookie's Gin. The hinterland spirits-maker was highly commended in the sustainable distillery of the year category at the World Gin Awards 2022. Their Byron Dry Gin was awarded gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, as well as taking home gold and the consumer’s choice award at the 2022 SIP Awards. The Brookie’s Byron Slow [Sloe] Gin, which is made from indigenous Davidson Plum, was also a gold medal-winning and consumer’s choice favourite.
Devil’s Thumb - QLD
Provenance underpins the philosophy behind Port Douglas Distillery Devils Thumb. From sourcing wild botanicals from the local rainforest to using water that flows through it in its distillation process, Devils Thumb is all about bottling the essence of Far North Queensland. The distillery was even named after a significant cultural site in the Daintree National Park (known as Manjal Jimalji by the Eastern Kuku Yalanj), which tells the story of fire creation.
This spirited approach is reflected in the quality, with the Devils Thumb Navy Strength Gin crowned the World's Best Navy Gin at the World Gin Awards 2022.
Beachtree Distilling Co - QLD
Beachtree Distilling Co is a relative newcomer to the Aussie gin scene but the Caloundra-based business is already making a splash. The contemporary Queensland outfit, which launched in 2020, was awarded a double gold medal for its Organic Native Skippy Gin at the 2022 New York World Spirits Competition, with the delectable drop packed with native botanicals, including strawberry gum, lemon myrtle, finger lime, kakadu plum, native pepperberries and quandong.
South Australian newcomer Never Never is making waves. Image: Facebook
Tinberry Distilling Co - SA
When it comes to easy, approachable gins, Tinberry Distilling Co has you covered. Their Signature Gin – a subtly sweet, citrusy and floral number with hints of lavender, cinnamon and a citrus burst – is set to be your new go-to gin. It won double gold the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was the only Aussie gin to achieve double gold at the 2022 Singapore World Spirits Competition. It was also awarded a gold medal at the 2022 Tasting Australia Spirit Awards.
Mt Uncle Distillery - QLD
If you like your gin with a little extra kick, then add Mt. Uncle Distillery’s Botanic Australis Navy Strength Gin, from Queensland, to your must-sip list. After being crowned Gin of the Year in 2021, the distinctly dry, gold medal-winning drop – with hints of citrus, sweet pine, ginger, pepperberry and bunya nut – was awarded 99 points at the 2022 International Wine Spirits Competition, making it one of only five gins globally to achieve the near-perfect score.
Gindu - VIC
This small-batch Victorian distillery is a two-time double gold winner with two of its gins – A Coastal Gin and An Australian Dry Gin –taking home the prestigious medals at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Gindu’s A Coastal Gin is a harmonious matrimony of sunrise lime, rainforest, rosemary and saltbush. An Australian Dry Gin delivers a subtle blend of sunburnt wattle, saltbush and anise, with piquant lime, hints of mandarin and spice. It was also awarded Best in Class Classic Dry Gin at the 2021 Australian Gin Awards.
Turner Stillhouse - TAS
If you’re looking for the perfect festive spirit, Turner’s Stillhouse gold medal-winning Three Cuts Gin - Barrel Rested is the one. With notes of Christmas cake, coffee, cinnamon, plum and baked orange, this limited release from small-batch Tasmanian distillery Turner Stillhouse is the ideal complement for your festive Gin Buck (gin, ginger ale, squeeze lemon juice) cocktails.
Given their award-winning Founder’s Release gin is the base spirit for the Barrel Rested edition, it’s hardly a surprise that the aged gin, which is rested in pinot noir barrels, took home the trophy for Best Matured Gin at the 2022 Australian Gin Awards. It was also awarded a gold medal at the International Wine Spirits Competition 2022, with a score of 96 points.
It's not just the upside down bottle that makes Forty Spotted's gin great. Image: Supplied
Forty Spotted - TAS
There’s something about the pure, untamed water of Tasmania that makes the state’s gins some of the country’s most memorable, not to mention delicious. And Forty Spotted’s ‘wildly beautiful’ Tasmanian gin is no exception. Named after the island’s rarest bird, the Forty-spotted Pardalote, and produced at the award-winning Lark Distillery, this upside-down bottle maker is ruffling more than a few industry feathers. At the 2022 Spirits Business Gin Masters, Forty Spotted was awarded two Master medals – the first for its Wild Rose Gin – a fragrant bouquet of roses, violets and fairy-pink musk sticks – the second for its refreshing Citrus & Pepperberry Gin.
Seppeltsfield Road Distillers - SA
Silky smooth isn’t a descriptor that’s dished out liberally when it comes to spirits, but this was the basis for Seppeltsfield Road Distillers scoring some big wins for their Barossa Shiraz 2021 Gin. The shiraz flavoured gin was awarded 99 points at the 2022 International Wine & Spirits Competition, with judged describing the grape and grain integration as “sensational”. Trailing by just one point was their Musician’s Cut Gin, which was also awarded a gold medal with 98 points at the 2022 IWSC. The South Australian distillery’s success continued at The Global Spirits (Gin) Masters Competition 2022, where their Native Ground Gin achieved the highest medal, a Masters, in the Contemporary category.
Honourable mentions
2022 Australian gin awards
- Travelling While Standing Still: Trophy – Best Classic Dry Gin
- Sanctus Distilling Blood Lime Gin: Trophy – Best Contemporary Style Gin
- Jones & Smith Distillery, Epoch Navy Gin: Trophy - Best Navy Strength Gin
- 7k Distillery, Tasmanian Raspberry Aqua Vitae Gin – Trophy, Traditional Liqueurs and Flavoured Gin
2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
- 78 Degrees, Sunset Gin – Double Gold Medal
- Distil on the Hill, Mandarin Gin – Double Gold Medal
- Imperial Measures, Ounce Gin Signature – Double Gold Medal
- Narrow Tracks, Dog Days Gin – Double Gold Medal
London Spirits Competition 2022
- Ambleside Distillers, Big Dry Gin – Gold (93 points)
- Southern Wild Distillery, Dasher + Fisher Ocean Gin – Gold (93 points)
- Young Henrys, Newtown Strength Gin – Gold (93 points)
International wine spirits competition 2022
- Naught Distilling, Sangiovese Gin – 98 points
- Granddad Jack's Craft Distillery, 65 Miles Gin – 98 points
- Settlers Spirits, Yuzu Gin – 98 points
