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

With Australian summer well and truly upon us, you probably have a calendar full of barbecues, lunches and picnics coming up. If you're looking for delicious beverages to serve, other than wine, you've come to the right place. These three Australian gins are rich in flavour and perfect for sipping neat, drinking with premium tonic, or in classic cocktails.

These gorgeous bottles also make a memorable gift for the gin-lover in your life. The 23rd Street Distillery Raspberry and Finger Lime Gin has layers of rich sweetness and vibrant acidity. Meanwhile the Imbibis Foraged Gin, crafted from local ingredients in south-east Queensland, evokes the wild beauty of the Australian bush. And the Little Juniper Signature Gin, with its classic juniper warmth and soft floral lift, is the perfect versatile gin for enjoying with tonic or in fresh cocktails (they've even provided a Little Juniper recipe for you to try).

Below, we spoke to the distillers about what makes their gin unique, the distilling process, and how best to enjoy them.

Bellarine Distillery Legacy Liqueur

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

Bellarine Distillery Teddy & The Fox

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&T’s 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.

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

Blackwattle Distillery Co O.P. Sydney Gin 

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 OP 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 OP have been developed with the Sydney Fish Market on Blackwattle Bay in mind. Bay, Black Pepper, Ginger and Lemon amongst 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

Hillman Bros Modern Australian Gin 

Hillman Bros say: Combines traditional botanicals with Australian native botanicals vapor infused draws out the oils and flavors. Citrus forward with a beautiful oily mouth feel from the macadamia nuts. 

Best enjoyed: Cocktail: The ultimate G&T gin served with premium Indian tonic water.

Glassware: Highball glass rosemary sprig.

Lamb cutlets seasoned lemon zest and rosemary with a fresh salad and duck fat potatoes.

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

Hillman Bros Good Gin

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

Best enjoyed: Cocktail: Apple Gimlet (Good gin, fresh lime juice, cloudy apple juice)

Glassware: Tall glass

Ploughman’s lunch: cheeses, crisp green apples, crusty bread and cold meats.

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

Imperial Measures Ounce Gin Bold

Imperial Measures say: Ounce Gin Bold 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. For all those looking for a real gin.

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

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

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

Imperial Measures Ounce Gin Bright 

Imperial Measures say: Ounce Gin Bright is our ode to fresh, bright, lifted styles of gin. Sunshine, cool drinks and relaxing long afternoons. 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. 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. Fresh dill (or mint), fresh lime, a touch of sweetness and the perfect botanical profile to complement. Icy cold, short and moreish. Or, G&Ts with Mediterranean tonic, lime and mint will elevate any warm sunny day.

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

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

King Island Distillery Gidley Pinot Noir Gin 

King Island Distillery say: Gidley Pinot Noir Gin is a collaboration with Beautiful Isle Wines, marrying 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 — 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

King Island Distillery Coastal Gin 

King Island Distillery say: King Island Coastal Gin is a handcrafted spirit capturing the rugged essence of King Island with native botanicals like kelp, saltbush and rain-fresh water for a crisp, savoury, seaside character. It’s super smooth and deeply aromatic with citrus and maritime notes. Beyond it’s 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 — and 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 & fennel-crusted calamari — seafood and coastal flavours that mirror the gin’s citrus, herbaceous, and savoury profile. Char-cuterie, artisan cheeses and crisp citrus salads also elevate the experience.

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

Spring Bay

Spring Bay say: Rasp

Best enjoyed: 

RRP $? | 23rdstreetdistillery.com.au | Shop this gin