Ten exciting gins to try from some of Australia’s best distillers

If you're looking for delicious beverages to serve, other than wine, you've come to the right place. These 10 Australian gins are rich in flavour and perfect for sipping neat, drinking with premium tonic, or in classic cocktails.

Try, for instance, the Legacy Liqueur from Bellarine Distillery, a gin-based liqueur that Halliday taster Fred Siggins describes as “delicate and beautifully balanced”. Or, sample the Modern Australian Gin from Hillman Bros Distilling Co., which combines traditional botanicals with Australian native botanicals.

Priced between $66 and $96, these gorgeous bottles also make a memorable gift for the gin-lover in your life. Below, we spoke to the distillers about what makes their gin unique and how best to enjoy them.

 

Bellarine Distillery Legacy Liqueur

Legacy Liqueur is a gin-based liqueur made from Bellarine Distillery’s Teddy & The Fox Gin. Infused with lemon myrtle and orange for a warm citrus character and blended with botrytis semillon for sweetness and depth, this liqueur is a lot more than just gin plus sugar. The aroma here is bright and complex, yet subtle, with plenty of fresh orange peel as well as juniper, wine and warm spices, which are all superbly integrated. The sweetness on the palate is more of a juicy fruit rather than cloying sugar – really nice to see in a liqueur – and there’s plenty of acid from the wine to balance. Light and very drinkable, you could almost use this in place of an off-dry vermouth for classic cocktails, in a spritz with some prosecco, or just on the rocks with a slice of orange. A delicate and beautifully balanced liqueur. – Fred Siggins, 95 points

Bellarine Distillery say: Created in honour of Lorelle Joy Warren, our beloved founder and Australian Distillers Hall of Fame inductee, this liqueur celebrates her enduring legacy. A unique blend of Teddy & The Fox Gin and Botrytis Semillon dessert wine, it shines with vibrant citrus notes and luscious tropical fruit depth. 

Best enjoyed: Serve lightly chilled and neat in a stemmed glass to appreciate its aromatics, or over ice for a more relaxed expression. It also shines as a spritz topped with soda and a twist of citrus, or as a refined cocktail ingredient where its citrus and tropical notes can take centre stage.

A carefully curated cheese and charcuterie platter is the ideal partner for this spirit. Soft, creamy cheeses enhance mouthfeel, while aged and washed-rind varieties amplify depth and complexity whilst dried fruits add gentle sweetness.

RRP $80 | bellarinedistillery.com.au | Shop this gin

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Bellarine Distillery Teddy & The Fox

Opening with a healthy note of orange marmalade and thoughtful inclusion of native botanicals, it holds its own with some of the top gins made in Australia. The marmalade character almost turns into an entertaining orange-creamsicle note with a bit of butter on the nose and a creamy mouthfeel. These elements really pull the gin together and elevate it to a high standard by dampening some harsher spirit characters and creating an excellent foundation for flavours to move across more seamlessly. The nose opens with baked citrus before more classic botanicals and dusky juniper emerge. The palate then flips, with those traditional gin flavours hitting first, before a bubble of lemon gum revitalises the experience. The spirit achieves a polished clarity while still building into a cohesive gin. – Jess Clayfield, 96 points

Bellarine Distillery say: Teddy & The Fox was our very first gin and remains our most popular. Built on vapour-infused juniper it leads with beautifully lifted citrus from organic Valencia oranges, while lemon myrtle delivers bright lemonade icy-pole and orange fruit tingle nostalgia. It’s a vibrant yet balanced citrus-forward contemporary gin perfect for G&Ts on summer days.

Surprise the spirit lover on your list with our exclusive foraged gin – crafted in small batches, never found in major retail outlets and a true treasure for any artisan spirits collector. Unique, local and full of festive flavour, it’s the ultimate gift for those who appreciate the art of fine distilling. 

Best enjoyed: Signature G&T – Highball, plenty of ice, Fevertree Mediterranean Tonic, garnish with a dehydrated orange slice. Also makes a great White Lady cocktail or as we call it – a ‘Foxy Lady’ with orange liqueur and lemon juice.

Pairs well with local Bellarine Angasi oysters with a squeeze of fresh lemon. The oysters’ creamy texture mirrors the gin’s rounded palate. Lifted citrus and lemon myrtle amplify natural brine, creating a bright, saline coastal harmony that feels unmistakably at home on the Bellarine Peninsula.

RRP $92 | bellarinedistillery.com.au | Shop this gin

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Blackwattle Distillery Co. O.P. Sydney Gin 

Holding nothing back, this gin's higher abv is at the forefront of its flavour profile. Bold herbaceous notes and a robust juniper quality build into a peppery, strong character. Raising the alcohol percentage really helps bring attention to the oily juniper notes. The other botanicals are integrated well to create an overall classic gin profile, with most flavour characteristics present; citrus, spice and herb characters have their place. Initially, the high alcohol does stick out and overwhelm the palate, but you quickly acclimatise to it, and it's helpful to remember that these styles of gin are designed with mixing in mind. The nose offers surprisingly subtle intensity, with woody juniper and a hint of spicy ginger. The finish of the spirit is particularly lovely, with a supple sage-like note gently rounding off the palate. – Jess Clayfield, 94 points

Blackwattle Distillery Co say: Our O.P. Sydney Gin is full of citrus and spice, and it’s strong. The essential oils from 13 botanicals combine in this full-flavoured gin, that at 55% abv will bring your G&T to the next level.

Best enjoyed: Depending on your mood, serve O.P. in a short or tall glass, filled with ice and a slice of fresh lemon, topped up with light Indian tonic, or half soda and half tonic (which we like to call Sonic). A full-flavoured G&T where you can taste our gin right ‘til the end.

The flavours for our O.P. have been developed with the Sydney Fish Market on Blackwattle Bay in mind. Bay, black pepper, ginger and lemon are among 13 botanicals that have been carefully selected to make this gin the perfect accompaniment to fresh seafood. Oyster shots anyone?

RRP $85 | blackwattledistillery.com.au | Shop this gin

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Hillman Bros Distilling Co. Modern Australian Gin 

Capturing the essence of the contemporary, it balances a persistent gin character with the addition of Australian botanicals. The nutty warmth of the wattleseed creates a sophisticated, linear flavour that carries throughout. Used with consideration, the botanicals don’t overwhelm the established gin profile, but rather lift it and encourage each botanical to shine. This gin is well structured, with the nose flowing well into the plush palate and then into the finish, with no disjointed character; it feels like a well-thought-out, whole product. Its deep, woody character lightens up towards the finish to allow for the bright citrus notes to shine and lighten it up. – Jess Clayfield, 95 points

Hillman Bros Distilling Co. say: Combines traditional botanicals with Australian native botanicals. The vapours draw out the oils and flavours. It's citrus forward, with a beautiful oily mouthfeel from the macadamia nuts.

Best enjoyed: This is best enjoyed in classic cocktails like a G&T. It's the ultimate G&T gin served with premium Indian tonic water. For glassware, we recommend serving in a Highball glass with a rosemary sprig. Pairs well with lamb cutlets seasoned with lemon zest and rosemary with a fresh salad and duck fat potatoes.

RRP $66 | hillmanbros.com.au | Shop this gin

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Hillman Bros Distilling Co. Good Gin

Apple and elderflower flavours are perfect partners and are beautifully integrated into this gin. At all points, they achieve a wonderful balance with neither dominating nor overwhelming the other. The dried emu apple character helps to bring out some more nuanced notes in the elderflower, such as its soft honeydew melon flavour, especially on the nose. The floral touch of the elderflower bolsters the subtle nature of the emu apple, full of soft dried orchard fruits and a hint of spice. The juniper and overall gin nature isn't lost either, emerging more in the back of the palate and into the finish, which engages the drinker and makes the entire experience enjoyable. Fruit-forward gins are often difficult to produce without them feeling like a caricature of a gin; this one manages to walk the line with sweetness without candying. – Jess Clayfield, 97 points

Hillman Bros Distilling Co. say: Combines traditional botanicals with Australian native botanicals, vapour infused to give a unique nose and taste profile. Craft production using a traditional copper pot still provides more flavour nuance and complexity.

Best enjoyed: Suitable for cocktails such as an Apple Gimlet (made using Good Gin, fresh lime juice and cloudy apple juice). Serve in a tall glass. For food pairing, this is great with a Ploughman's lunch: cheeses, crisp green apples, crusty bread and cold meats.

RRP $66 | hillmanbros.com.au | Shop this gin

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Imperial Measures Distilling Bold Ounce Gin

'Bold' is the crown jewel in Imperial Measures' gin portfolio, delivering robust, full and resplendent juniper throughout. Careful selection of spices and green herbs all elevate this intense pine, along with a higher abv to carry the oils. The nose is a crystal clear snapshot of freshly crushed juniper and savoury alpine notes, creating an enticing, lifted aroma. The palate then descends into far denser, oilier characteristics, with intense dry spice, provincial herb and almost a hint of smoke. Not for the faint of heart, this gin is what it says it is: bold. The intensity of it only builds before crescendoing into a lean olive flavour that both coats the finish but also delivers a hit of salt to coax another sip. Each time tasting this gin, new flavours present themselves and the complexity grows. – Jess Clayfield, 97 points

Imperial Measures say: This is a true gin lover’s gin – bold Juniper, brooding herbs and rich spice delicately spritzed with a hint of citrus. Savoury, weighty, intense and lingering. This is perfect for all those looking for a real gin.

Best enjoyed: Made for bracingly cold Martinis and refreshing Tom Collins’. Our signature G&T with Indian tonic and green olives is highly recommended for a slightly less dangerous ‘Long Martini’ experience. Bold Ounce Gin is also able to stand true within the intense flavours of a Red Snapper (Gin Bloody Mary).

Bold Ounce Gin is more at home with Entrecôte than you might assume. The savoury herbal notes pair with the complex sauce while simultaneously cleansing the palate between indulgences. Our go-to special evening dish.

RRP $94 | imdistilling.com.au | Shop this gin

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Imperial Measures Distilling Bright Ounce Gin

Imbued with a sense of a sunny garden, this gin pushes itself to encapsulate a vision without losing its essence as a gin. Juniper-forward at every turn, it attunes its oily pine to help the other, somewhat softer, botanicals shine. The nose belies a vibrant green character; you can almost imagine the dew on the dill, subtly present, which makes the gin feel sun-warmed. The palate explodes with the lively warmth of a summer arboretum. Radiant green herbs complement and enhance the nuance of juniper, creating a complex yet harmonious drinking experience. Wisps of more savoury, sharper notes create a few surprising moments while drinking. The finish drops down into an intense licorice note, rolling along the palate and pulling as much out of the spirit as possible. – Jess Clayfield, 95 points

Imperial Measures say: Bright Ounce Gin is our ode to fresh, bright, lifted styles of gin. Perfect for sunshine, cool drinks and relaxing long afternoons. It has elegant fresh herbs at the fore, supported by a pleasing juniper presence, paired with ginger and pink pepper along with a touch of anise to complement the finish. This is for those chasing exquisite refreshments, balancing delicacy with full flavour.

Best enjoyed: Our Bright Side cocktail, a riff on the South Side, shows you what this gin is all about. Made with fresh dill (or mint) and fresh lime, this has a touch of sweetness and the perfect botanical profile to complement the gin. Also suitable in G&Ts with Mediterranean tonic, lime and mint – it will elevate any warm sunny day.

We love serving this with freshly made cucumber sandwiches or a watermelon, fresh mint and goat's feta salad. It really hits the spot with a Bright G&T in hand.

RRP $89 | imdistilling.com.au | Shop this gin

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King Island Distillery Bass Strait Gidley Pinot Noir Gin 

Impressively, the nose retains a strong note of juniper, often lost in fruited/flavoured gins. The woody, oily element of the juniper is bolstered by the other bold, spiced botanicals. The fruity note of the pinot noir is the first thing you notice in the aroma, with rich strawberry coulis widening out into fresher berries and a hint of orchard fruit. The palate follows the harmony of the spice and fruit, creating a super lush texture and opening the palate, which coats the mouth before ebbing out to allow drier notes to make themselves known. The integration of flavours is absolutely excellent; within its unified profile, each botanical gets a moment to shine. Before the finish kicks in, hints of minty menthol, licorice and baked citrus are all showcased. On the finish, the warming flavours of pepperberry help to draw everything out. – Jess Clayfield, 97 points

King Island Distillery Bass Strait say: Gidley Pinot Noir Gin is a collaboration with Beautiful Isle Wines. It marries the classic juniper and spice backbone of Gidley Dry Gin with juicy pinot noir grape infusions for a jewel-toned, aromatic gin. Its ruby hue and vibrant berry, citrus and spice notes deliver depth, balance and sophistication. This is a uniquely expressive gin with both gin’s structure and wine-inspired character.  

Best enjoyed: Serve over ice in a large wine glass with premium Mediterranean tonic, fresh strawberries and a twist of orange to elevate its berry and citrus notes. It shines in a vibrant Negroni or a Pinot Noir Gin Spritz with sparkling wine and soda. For a refined serve, enjoy it in a delicate, ruby-hued Martini with a lemon peel garnish.

Pair with duck breast served medium-rare, finished with a cherry and star anise glaze – the richness and gentle game notes echo the Pinot’s berry depth while spice lifts the botanicals. Alternatively, seared Atlantic salmon with beetroot and blood orange salad creates a refined, acid-balanced match that elevates both gin and dish.

RRP $96 | kingislanddistillery.com.au | Shop this gin

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King Island Distillery Bass Strait Coastal Gin 

Distinctly oceanic sea-breeze notes flow throughout the entirety of the aptly named 'coastal' gin. Bringing forth a quality of an early morning stroll along a beach, the day calm with a slight chill in the air, the bracing salinity works to invigorate the senses and awaken one's faculties. King Island has produced a gin that is not only interesting and a good expression of the savory/salty style, but one made with incredible care and fantastically balanced between being the traditional gin profile and incorporating distinct and unusual botanicals. Kelp and, in this case Bull kelp, is an ingenious botanical to incorporate in this style of gin; not only does it bring complexity to the briny profile, but the unique umami quality drives a deeply immersive drinking experience. Full of crushed pine, stimulating green spice and textural citrus, all supported and elevated by the alkaline backbone. – Jess Clayfield, 95 points

King Island Distillery Bass Strait say: King Island Coastal Gin is a hand-crafted spirit capturing the rugged essence of King Island with native botanicals like kelp, saltbush and rain-fresh water for a crisp, savoury and seaside character. It’s super smooth and deeply aromatic with citrus and maritime notes. Beyond its 2025 gold medal 95-point Halliday score, it’s been recognised with silver at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards and Highly Commended in both the Coastal Gin and Martini categories at the world’s largest independent Gin event – The Gin Guide Awards 2025. 

Best enjoyed: Serve tall over ice with a premium dry tonic, a slice of fresh pink grapefruit and a sprig of rosemary to highlight its coastal botanicals. For a purist serve, enjoy it in a crisp Martini with a saline rinse or lemon twist. It also creates an exceptional Negroni, where its savoury maritime notes bring depth and balance to the classic.

Pair its bracing, maritime brilliance with freshly shucked oysters with cucumber mignonette, kingfish crudo with lemon oil, or saltbush and fennel-crusted calamari – seafood and coastal flavours that mirror the gin’s citrus, herbaceous and savoury profile. Charcuterie, artisan cheeses and crisp citrus salads also elevate the experience.

RRP $93 | kingislanddistillery.com.au | Shop this gin

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Spring Bay Distillery Classic Gin 

Encompassing a traditional gin profile, with the addition of a few local botanicals, this gin sings with juniper. Offering woodier, stemmy pine on the nose, bolstered by wattleseed, which tends to this woody aroma with slight bitter coffee and dry spice. The palate offers riches of oily juniper and resin, encapsulating the botanical and keeping it at the forefront of flavours in full abundance. Other botanicals offer support and help bounce the juniper around. Notes of preserved lemon and hints of spice keep the spirit interesting. Using rainwater is an intriguing choice to cut the gin to the desired alcohol percentage; it is done by distilleries around the world using a variety of spirits. Rainwater is incredibly low in minerals; the process of water becoming rainwater is not dissimilar from vapour distillation. Distillers in areas of low pollution may choose to use rainwater to create softness within their spirit. The finish brings in subtle hues of mint and heavier use of licorice creates a lasting, creamy finish. – Jess Clayfield, 96 points

Spring Bay Distillery say: A defining element of Spring Bay Classic Gin is its use of rainwater collected from Spring Beach on Tasmania’s east coast. The pristine coastal environment provides exceptionally soft and clean water, contributing to the gin’s clarity, smooth texture and refined mouthfeel. It is distilled with 10 carefully selected botanicals, layered to achieve complexity while maintaining elegance and approachability. The result is a gin that is aromatic yet restrained, structured yet silky.

Best enjoyed: Bold flavours lend themselves to a tonic or soda addition. Our preference is lime or orange garnish as we distil with lemon. With the viscosity of the gin it makes a cracking martini also. As for the perfect food pairing, what could possibly go better with a coastal style gin than oysters or sashimi!

RRP $85 | springbaydistillery.com.au | Shop this gin

 

Top image credits: King Island Distillery