Chris Hemsworth has officially joined Sydney’s Archie Rose Distilling Co. as a co-owner.
With Aussie Hollywood royalty shining a light on local craft distilling, a new wave is cresting in a show of how Australia’s spirit scene is deeply tied to our incredible landscapes and provenance.
From tropical agave farms in the Whitsundays to First Nations ingredients from the Top End, Australia’s spirit producers offer a whole new way to experience the country through taste and travel. Here are a few highlight Aussie craft spirit experiences to keep on your radar.
SOLLOS Agave | Whitsundays, Queensland
- The Location: A 374-hectare coastal agave farm nestled in the Whitsundays, situated right on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef.
- Where to Find It: Taste it where it’s grown at the forthcoming Whitsundays Cellar Door, which opens in the coming months (more here), or join the SOLLOS Society for allocations of their inaugural Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo releases.
- The Owners: Created by the team behind the Australian Agave Project.
- Why It’s Cool: Sitting at 20° South of the equator, the Whitsundays’ latitude, volcanic soil, and tropical heat perfectly mirror the climate of Jalisco, Mexico (20° North). It’s Australia’s first hyper-local, single-estate Blue Weber agave spirit, bringing a fresh tropical twist to craft agave right next to the Coral Sea.
Red Mill Rum | White Bay, Sydney, New South Wales
- The Location: Rozelle’s historic industrial harbourfront in Sydney’s Inner West distillery precinct.
- Where to Find It: Behind the red door at 176 Mullens Street, Rozelle. Drop in for an intimate behind-the-scenes barrelhouse tour or drinks in their working industrial distillery space.
- Who Owns It: David Fesq, who reborn and reimagined the historic 1933 rum brand originally started by his great-grandfather.
- Why It’s Cool: Red Mill revives Sydney’s historic harbour rum-making roots. They age their small-batch spirits in an extraordinary one-of-a-kind barrel program featuring ex-Cognac, Sauternes, Sherry, and Port casks, offering an authentic, coastal-cool alternative to mass-produced rums.
Saison Aperitifs | Melbourne, Victoria
- The Location: Melbourne / Altona, Victoria.
- Where to Find It: Poured at Australia’s best natural wine bars, top-tier restaurants (like Melbourne’s Embla), and boutique stockists nationwide.
- Who Owns It: Acclaimed chef Dave Verheul (co-owner and head chef of Melbourne culinary staple Embla).
- Why It’s Cool: Saison breaks away from heavy, caramel-led European vermouths to craft vibrant, seasonal aperitifs driven by singular, peak-crop Australian produce. Using a chef’s palate, wild-harvested herbs, and local botanicals, each small-batch release is a hyper-seasonal snapshot of Aussie terroir.
Seven Seasons Spirits | Larrakia Country / Darwin, Northern Territory
https://www.seven-seasons.com.au/
- The Location: Seven Seasons spirits are produced at a distillery in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, using native ingredients wild-harvested from Larrakia Country in the Northern Territory.
- Where to Find It: On the cocktail menus of top-tier Top End dining venues in Darwin, as well as boutique stockists and Dan Murphy's nationally.
- Who Owns It: Former AFL star and proud Larrakia man Daniel Motlop.
- Why It’s Cool: Seven Seasons crafts spirits strictly according to the seven seasons of the Gulumoerrgin calendar. Green Ant Gin (featured at The Gathering) uses sustainably hand-harvested green ants (traditionally used for their vibrant citrus pop and medicinal properties) alongside native strawberry gum and pepperberry. The result is a crisp, lime-forward gin that offers a literal taste of 60,000+ years of First Nations knowledge in a glass.
For more inspiration, check out our list of Australia’s best distilleries.
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