Distilleries

Six unique ways to enjoy a gin tasting, including dazzling gardens, river cruises and more

If you’re after an unconventional place to enjoy your gin, Adelaide has plenty of hidden gems that promise a memorable tasting experience.

South Australia’s gin market has exploded in recent times, with craft distilleries and cocktail bars popping up across the city and its surrounding regions. But if you’re looking for a more unconventional setting to enjoy your gin, Adelaide has plenty of hidden gems that promise a memorable gin tasting experience.

Whether you’re on the hunt for a unique cocktail or just want to explore the unexpected, we’ve compiled a list of unusual and offbeat places to enjoy a gin tasting.

Adelaide Botanic Garden – Prohibition Gin Masterclass under the arbour

Image via Adelaide Botanic Gardens

Prohibition Gin have teamed up with Chihuly Studio to host a run of gin masterclass sessions under the Wisteria arbour in the Adelaide Botanic Garden this summer. From 7:15pm to 8:15pm, learn the ins and outs of gin distillation from Prohibition’s expert staff and try their limited edition Chihuly in the Botanic Garden Gin. For $65pp, your ticket also includes intro to the Chihuly Nights exhibition and light show.

WHEN: Thursday 16 January, Friday 17 January, Thursday 23 January,  Friday 31 January, Thursday 6 February, Friday 14 February, Thursday 20 February

WHERE: Wisteria arbour, Adelaide Botanic Garden (entry via Main Gate, North Terrace)

COST: $65 per person

For more info, click here.

Hindmarsh Island Gin Flight Cruise

Image via Spirit of the Coorong

From October to April, Spirit of the Coorong run floating gin tastings aboard a historic 1897 fantail wooden tiller vessel as part of their Gin Flight Cruises. If you can see yourself sipping on three flavours of Heaps Good Spirits’ gins while cruising along the Coorong on this vintage vessel, then this is the cruise for you.

Spirit of the Coorong run two sessions a week: the Friday Twilight Cruise and the Sunday Arvo Cruise, which both feature an intimate 90-minute journey with 3 gin flights and a shared platter of delicious treats.

WHEN: Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons from October – April

WHERE: Hindmarsh Island

COST: $89pp

For more info, click here.

Popeye Gin Cruises

If you’re looking for a river cruise + gin tasting combo that’s closer to the city, the iconic Popeye boat hosts not one, but two gin cruises.

Popeye’s Prohibition Gin Masterclass Cruise combines award-winning gin with glorious surrounds, local food and great company, all while cruising along the River Torrens on the edge of the city. For $65 per person, enjoy a tasting flight of three of Prohibitions best gins with a 45 minute talk focusing on the best ways to enjoy them.

Alternatively, you could indulge in Popeye’s Kangaroo Island Spirits Gin Tasting Tour, also for $65 per person. Enjoy a curated selection of three KI gin’s specially paired with three delicious treats; something fresh, something sweet and something savoury. Tasting tours run for an hour and a half and a KI representative will talk you through the experience, what you’re tasting, how the spirits are crafted and the significance of distilling from KI.

WHEN: Fridays and Saturdays. Availability varies.

WHERE: River Torrens

COST: $65pp

For more info, click here.

Ambleside Distillers

Nestled in a forested haven just outside Hahndorf, Ambleside Distillers has become known as one of South Australia’s premier distilleries since its establishment in 2016. Using locally sourced and homegrown botanicals that thrive in the Adelaide Hills, Ambleside’s picturesque cellar door invites customers to try a range of tasting experiences.

From Thursdays – Mondays, you can try their Gin Tasting Flight for $29pp. With grassy plains and native woodland as your backdrop, be guided through a tasting of Ambleside’s seasonal releases or core range gins, paired with garnishes from the garden, ice, and mixers. As a bonus: get $10 off the price of a 700ml bottle of gin after the tasting experience.

For the full package, Ambleside also run a Gin Blending Masterclass from $105pp. It all starts with a Gin Tasting Flight overlooking the stunning distillery gardens while one of their distillers takes you on a journey of how the business was started. Then, blend your own take-home gin using over 20 botanicals made in their distillery. For an additional $35pp, you can also receive a gin cocktail and cheeseboard on arrival.

WHAT: Ambleside Distillery gin experiences

WHEN: Gin Tasting Flight: Thursdays – Mondays | Gin Blending Masterclass: Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00AM

WHERE: Cnr of Ambleside Rd &, Mount Barker Rd, Hahndorf SA 5245

For more info, click here.

A Speed Date with Gin – Hains & Co

You read that right. Hains & Co in Gilbert Place, Adelaide, are hosting an incredible speed dating + gin tasting combo on May 3rd. Get ready for three rounds of speed dating: three gin distillers, three gin cocktails, and tasty bites to enjoy along the ride. Perhaps you’ll fall in love.

The potential love interests? Never Never Distilling Co., Ambleside Distillers and Full Circle Spirits will each have 20 minutes to woo you with not only their tasty gins, but also their entertaining stories. For $99pp, participants can indulge in nine gin tastings, three mini gin cocktails, and the chance to fall in love.

WHAT: A Speed Date with Gin

WHEN: Saturday, May 3rd at 1:30PM

WHERE: Hains & Co, 23 Gilbert Place, Adelaide, SA, 5000

For more info, click here.

Moo’s Distillery

Last winter, Waitpinga welcomed a new gem to the world of handcrafted spirits with the opening of Moo’s Distillery a few months ago. Located on Waitpinga Road, just outside of Victor Harbor, this new distillery has quickly made a name for itself with a focus on gin and vodka.

What was once a small, aged storage shed, has now been completely renovated into a space that is rustic, with modern distillation techniques, from polished wood bench tops to fortified cast iron walls.

Moo’s Distillery has become known for its craft spirits that capture the essence of Waitpinga. Each batch reflects local flora and traditions, using techniques that combine old-world craftsmanship with contemporary creativity. The cellar door not only offers a taste of the distillery’s spirits, but also features a little kitchen serving pizzas, hot chips, and platters.

WHAT: Moo’s Distillery

WHEN: Thursday – Sunday

WHERE: 790 Waitpinga Rd, Waitpinga SA 5211

For more info, click here.

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