Distilleries
Whether shaken or stirred, there’s no doubt our intoxicating patchwork of hills and valleys are home to some of the nation’s best small batch spirits. With an infinite supply of clean air and a barrel load of botanicals, you’ll find kicking back with a local drop is the perfect tonic to escape the rat-race.
Ambleside Distillers is a mecca for gin lovers, and its picturesque Hahndorf distillery with deck and tasting bar are a prime spot for a sneaky gin or cocktail. Fuel up with a flight of their three signature gins, take a behind the scenes distillery tour, or join a masterclass to make your own blend.
Lot 100 in Hay Valley is home to 78 Degrees Distillery and cellar door, whose range includes the signature 78° gin infused with 12 botanicals, The Bitter Orange aperitif, 'The Gunnery' spiced white rum, whiskey, vodka plus a range of vermouth and an apple spirit.
Balhannah's Route 9 Distillery offers a variety of tasting experiences including its signature Gin Paddle, and Whisky and chocolate pairings. For whisky lovers, exclusive 'Out of the Barrel' tasting sessions provide a rare chance to sample spirits straight from the cask, including current and and upcoming expressions from Adelaide Hills Whisky Co.
Tin Shed Distilling Co. in Nairne pairs bold, handcrafted whiskies, gins and rums with smokehouse BBQ, live music and sweeping treetop views—all from its stunning new home inside a repurposed bacon factory. With tastings, tours, and a warm, laid-back vibe on the balcony or by the bar, it’s a must-visit hangout for fine spirits, great food and good times.
Union Bridge Brewery & Distillery in Cudlee Creek brings back the best of times gone by, where a smiling bartender serves up craft ales as well as its own in-house Gin, Vodka and also Whisky.
Robbers Dog Distillery in Mount Pleasant is a small distillery producing high quality spirits using many locally sourced ingredients - visit them in the old bank that was robbed three times by the infamous Bicycle Bandit!
Tucked away in historic Hahndorf, Sensory House is the elegant home of Full Circle Spirits - a calm, beautifully curated space where you can sip, shop and savour handcrafted South Australian gins, whiskies and wines. It’s part tasting room, part gallery of local craftsmanship, and entirely about slowing down to enjoy the finer details.
other top spots and top local drops:
There are a number of boutique and locally distilled spirits to keep an eye out for as you make your way around the region, with a range of cellar doors, pubs, restaurants and bottle shops offering a chance to tastings and sales. Some of the highlights include:
Alexander Spirits 'London Calling' gin at Prancing Pony Brewery in Totness
‘Eau De Vie de Poire Williams’ - 40% white spirit made from local pears by Paracombe Premium Perry in Paracombe (tastings and sales at their shed door)
Fig Gin from Glen Ewin Estate in Houghton (tastings and sales at their cellar door)
LOBO Cider’s apple brandy, ‘Lobodos’, their Apfel central European dry schnapps and LOBO Djinn (gin), infused with local quinces and botanicals.
The 1857 Distillery Bar at Inglewood Inn in the northern Adelaide offers a huge selection of South Australian craft spirits, making it the perfect spot settle in on the couch, play some board games, or pull up a gin and chocolate paddle to pair three local gins and garnishes with matched luxury chocolates.
SA Distillery Trail
The South Australian spirits industry has created a Distillery Trail, showcasing a growing number of award-winning distilleries around the state, with plenty in the Adelaide Hills. South Australian spirits are leading the nation, and in many cases the world in terms of quality, and there has never been a better time to sample their products.