Be Gin-Spired At Tasmania’s Best Gin Distilleries
By Josie Rozenberg-Clarke
Lutruwita/Tasmania has many bragging rights – top-shelf wine, food and, of course, an embarrassment of riches when it comes to natural splendour. But the state’s gin scene is jostling for increasingly more space in the trophy cabinet, too, with distillers using Tassie-sourced botanicals to create spirits that are regularly awarded on the world stage. Whether you’re a G&T tragic or a slave to a gin martini, these local gin distilleries will keep your bar cart well and truly stocked.
▼
TAYLOR & SMITH DISTILLING CO
While Taylor & Smith’s Moonah distillery isn’t open to the public, owners Ben Taylor and Natalie Smith run stalls at Salamanca and Farm Gate Markets every weekend, where they’re more than happy to dish out tastings and talk you through their award-winning gin range. Pick up a bottle of their Dry Gin – featuring Tassie-sourced sage, abalone shell and Huon Pine needles, as well as red grapefruit – or try one of their cocktails. Tip: the pre-batched negroni is almost as good as a bartender’s just-made effort!
Salamanca Market, Salamanca Place, Hobart
Saturday, 8.30am-3pm
Farm Gate Market, 104 Bathurst Street, Hobart
Sunday, 8.30am-1pm
Taylor & Smith Distilling Co (image: Instagram)
HELLFIRE BLUFF DISTILLERY
Overlooking stunning Marion Bay, a gin tasting at Hellfire Bluff makes for the perfect detour on a trip to Port Arthur. The friendly folk at Hellfire are always up for taking thirsty punters on a free distillery tour for a behind-the-scenes stickybeak at how its potato vodka and gin ranges are made - with plenty of samples along the way. One sip of Hellfire’s Tassie rainwater-distilled London Dry Gin will show you why it’s scored multiple gold medals at global spirits competitions.
55 Craigs Hill Road, Boomer Bay
Monday-Sunday, 10am-4pm
HARTSHORN DISTILLERY
A scenic 40 minute drive south of Hobart will take you to the Ewenique Tasting House, where you can try sheep’s milk cheese and sheep’s whey gin from Hartshorn Distillery. This sustainable micro-distillery was the outcome of owner Ryan Hartshorn’s search for a use for the discarded sheep’s whey from his cheesery, Grandvewe. Instead of chucking it out, the whey goes into making vodka and gin – a world first. Adding to its uniqueness, Hartshorn gin is created with vapour-infused botanicals (rather than the traditional steeping method), lending it a comparatively more subtle flavour.
59 Devlyns Road, Birchs Bay
Friday-Monday, 11am-3pm
Hartshorn Distillery (image: Tourism Australia)
HOUSE OF LENNA
Tucked in behind the Lenna of Hobart hotel near Salamanca Place, Battery Point Distillery produces whiskey and gin, with the latter boasting some of the most aesthetically pleasing packaging going around. Book online for a $30 interactive tour of the distillery, taking you through the process of producing its spirits, the fascinating history of the building, and a gin tasting to finish. Lenna’s award-winning No.1 gin, with its notes of vanilla, tonka bean and Tasmanian sea salt, is a must-try.
20 Runnymede Street, Battery Point
Monday-Saturday, 10am-4pm
TURNER STILLHOUSE
The New York finance bro turned Tasmanian spirit distiller pipeline may not be a common journey, but American-born Justin Turner did just that after marrying a Tassie gal. Having grown up in a family of distillers and winemakers, Justin started Turner Stillhouse in 2018, releasing its signature Three Cuts Gin range and winning several global awards thenceforth. Just 15 minutes from Launceston, Turner Stillhouse runs $25 distillery tours and $60 spirit, wine and cheese tours, every day of the week.
1A Waldhorn Drive, Rosevears
Monday-Sunday, 10am-5pm
Turner Stillhouse (image: Tourism Australia)
▼
