Best distilleries in regional NSW

Husk Farm Distillery, Northern Rivers

Australia's only single estate paddock to bottle rum distillery, Husk Farm Distillery is also known for its eye-popping, violet-hued Ink Gin infused with butterfly pea flowers. Set on 150 acres on the banks of the Tweed River just 40 minutes from Byron Bay, enjoy views across the valley to Wollumbin as you sip a cocktail. Join a behind-the-scenes distillery tour to learn how these concoctions are made and partake in a guided tasting of seven spirits.

Husk Farm Distillery, North Tumbulgum - Credit: Cape Productions

Cape Byron Distillery, Byron Bay

Set in the hinterland of Byron Bay on a family farm, Cape Byron Distillery makes whisky as well as Brookie's aperitivo and gin. With a whisky highball in hand, tour the distillery and learn how your drink was made. Prefer a gin and tonic? Join a rainforest walk, hearing the history of the Big Scrub, seeing rainforest botanicals and learning how this environmentally responsible team infuses them into gin.

Cape Byron Distillery Tours, Mcleods Shoot - Credit: Cape Byron Distillery Tours

Lord Howe Island Distilling Co, Lord Howe Island

Using wild and endemic botanicals from the island it calls home, a gin tasting at Lord Howe Island Distilling Co. is a culinary journey you can only get in one place in the world. Amid the lush, subtropical forests and the crystal-clear waters of the Tasman Sea, sip gin infused with mountain rose and native sea grapes. Select your own preferred blend of botanicals during a distillation class.

Lord Howe Island Distilling Co., Lord Howe Island

Wharf St Distillery, Forster

Order the gin tasting paddle at Wharf St. Distillery to appreciate the taste of coastal Australia. Their oyster shell gin has a minerality and subtle ocean saltiness while the pigface gin incorporates the beach succulent it is named after in colour and flavour profile. Located in Forster’s Wharf Street precinct, lunch and dinner are served here; dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas and live music gigs are common occurrences.

Wharf St. Distillery, Forster

EARP Distilling Co, Newcastle

With a seasonal menu and rotating cocktail list, there’s always something new at family-owned EARP Distilling Co in Newcastle, but that’s not where the creativity ends. Behind the doors of the beautiful mosaic facade, the team runs a wealth of hands-on experiences from tastings and date nights to blending workshops and distilling classes. See how they use local and organic ingredients, energy-efficient stills and other sustainable methods for yourself.

Earp Distilling Co., Newcastle

Baker Williams Distillery, Mudgee

A microdistillery in Mudgee, Baker Williams Distillery is run by a husband and wife team who handcraft spirits and liqueurs infused with the region’s flavours. Their Orancello showcases the citrus the region is known for. With gin, whisky and liqueurs on offer, their butterscotch schnapps is one of the most reordered drinks. Co-located with Vinifera Wines, you can also enjoy fine Spanish wine varietals here too.

Baker Williams Distillery, Mudgee - Credit: Mudgee Region Tourism

Dobson’s Distillery, New England

A temple to steampunk and jazz, the speakeasy at Dobson’s Distillery in New England serves up absinthe, vodka, gin, liqueurs and rum. Try limited release whiskies or a flight of gins as you watch an old-school movie on their in-bar cinema screen. Lunch is offered on weekends.

Eastview Estate and Dobson's Distillery, Kentucky - Credit: Eastview Estate and Dobson's Distillery

Distillery Botanica, Gosford

Nestled in a beautiful garden, wander the fragrant grounds of Distillery Botanica before heading into the tasting room or out to the mudbrick cocktail bar. Order a gin or negroni, tour the gardens with master distiller and herbalist Philip Moore, book into a cocktail class or distil your own gin.

Distillery Botanica, Erina - Credit: Richard Weinstein | Distillery Botanica

Blue Mountains Gin Company, Katoomba

Distilling negroni, vodka and gin on-site, The Factory Bar in Katoomba offers more than just drinks. Enjoy live music on weekend evenings, join a cocktail class, get cosy next to the firepit during the cooler months and take a photo with your pooch for the Distillery Dogs Hall of Fame. On the last Saturday of each month you can tour the distillery, seeing the process from grain to glass and enjoying complimentary drinks. Of course, their drinks are great too – try the colour-changing Mountain Devil Magic Gin.

The Factory Bar, Katoomba - Credit: David Hill | Jann Dillon

North of Eden Artisan Distillers, Bega

Using ingredients grown on-site or foraged, North of Eden is the only distillery in Australia to use locally grown Australian juniper in its core commercial range. You can even make your own bottle of gin at their Gin School. Over three hours, learn about the art of distillation while you create your own infusion with their botanicals. With all outdoor seating, visit when the sun is shining to soak in the rolling green hills and watch the highland cows.

North of Eden Gin, Stoney Creek

Millsheds Distillery, Southern Highlands

The Mill in Bowral has had many lives since its 1850s beginnings, but today this charming area hosts Millsheds Distillery. Crafting small-batch vodka and gin with whisky quietly ageing behind the scenes, book a tour to see the distilling process before tasting five Millsheds spirits.

Millsheds Bar and Distillery, Bowral - Credit: Millsheds Bar and Distillery

Tara Distillery, Shoalhaven

Made using traditional copper pots, pure harvested Shoalhaven rainwater, Australian grains and botanicals, Tara Distillery regularly wins awards for their gins. Drop by for a tour and tasting on weekends to learn about how the Cambewarra Ranges overlooking the distillery were notorious in the 1800s for their illicit stills and high-quality spirit. Sample their acclaimed Australian poitín ‘The Exile’, an Irish-style white whiskey and a tribute to this infamous history.

Tara Distillery, Nowra Hill

Foxdog Distillery, Eurobodalla

Run by the Abel family and their dog Frankie, this distillery handpicks the botanicals for their signature mandarin gin. With panoramic views of Wandera Mountain and the Mogo State Forest, Foxdog Distillery is a welcoming venue with indoor and shaded outdoor seating. Cycle there, play lawn games as the sun sets and stay overnight in one of their six self-contained villas.

Foxdog Distillery, Mogo - Credit: Lee Besser | Foxdog Distillery

Wildbrumby Distillery, Thredbo Valley

Is there a better pairing than skiing and schnapps? Co-founded by a former ski-instructor whose grandfather was a distiller in Austria, Wildbrumby Distillery brings authentic European schnapps to picturesque Thredbo. Using locally sourced, organic fruits and botanicals to create a range of gin, gluhwein, schnapps and vodka, Wildbrumby not only has a distillery door and cafe, but a sculpture garden too.

Wildbrumby Distillery, Crackenback - Credit: Wildbrumby Distillery