Australian distilleries have undergone something of a renaissance over the past few years and New South Wales is no exception to this trend. In fact, Australia’s oldest state is, in many ways, at the forefront of the distillery revolution.
With roughly 318 distilleries in operation across the country — and around 70 of those calling NSW home — there are a tonne to choose from and explore. Some focus exclusively on a single spirit while others bottle liquor of all varieties. While mainly focussed on gin and whiskey, NSW distilleries also pump out bespoke vodkas, rums, liqueurs, and other, more niche, craft spirits.
Picking a good distillery involves considering the quality of output, the novelty of the product range, and the ambience and layout of the cellar door, amongst other things. Many of these spaces are destinations in their own right while others make for the perfect accompaniment to a weekend away and we’ve gravitated towards the international award winners.
From small batch operations supplying quaint rural towns to titans of the industry, these are the best distilleries in NSW.
The Best Distilleries in New South Wales
Hickson House Distilling, The Rocks
One of the leading lights of the Sydney scene, Hickson House is a distillery, bar, and kitchen housed in a century-old warehouse in The Rocks. Bringing together some of the finest minds in Australian drinks and hospitality, Hickson has made real waves since its launch in 2021 and, last year, their Summer Cup took out best-flavoured gin at the Australian Gin Awards. Stop in to sample their London Dry, Harbour Strength, or a locally inspired Australian Dry.
Mobius Distilling Company, Marrickville
Founded in 2106, Mobius has quietly been taking the Sydney distilling scene by storm. They remain dedicated to the small-bath ethos, meaning that every bottle of their outstanding staples or quirky new concoctions is hand filled, capped, sealed, and labelled. They’ve taken out numerous national and international awards and can be found online or doing the rounds at the local markets.
Archie Rose Distilling Co, Roseberry
You can’t really talk about NSW distilling without mentioning Archie Rose. For a decade now, the warehouse in the suburbs of Sydney has been infusing world-class tipples that have made the rest of the planet sit up and take note. They are in no small part responsible for Australian gin being taken seriously elsewhere and are constant innovators when it comes to new flavours to try. Their citrusy main dry gin however remains a firm favourite amongst connoisseurs.
Distillery Botanica, Erina
Founded by the esteemed herbalist of 20 years, Phillip Moore, Distillery Botanica is an idyllic garden paradise that packs a punch when it comes to the drinks. Moore has been winning international accolades since almost the minute he launched the distillery in 2005. The originator of the Moore’s gin line and the Mr Black Coffee Liqueur, Moore is the only Australian in the Gin Magazine Hall of Fame. A seriously worthwhile place for the serious gin-lover.
Headlands Distilling Co., Wollongong
Headlands are true innovators when it comes to spirits. Driven to create a national spirit, they are the only distillery in the world to use the native Illawarra plum in their offerings and, in doing so, have earned international acclaim. The Spirit of the Illawarra Plum has been recognised in the World Spirits competition while their Tidal Gin was voted best sloe gin in the world last year.
Karu Distillery, Grose Vale
Karu is one of Australia’s most awarded distilleries. Hidden at the base of the Blue Mountains, in the ‘Devil’s Wilderness’, they aim to infuse a little wildness into their products. With a coconutty, dark, Outcask rum, a chilli vodka, a lightning gin, and a coffee-gin liqueur to get you started, it’s clear they’re not messing around. With incredible views and a passionate duo behind the bottles, made sure to add them to your list.
Bathurst Grange Distillery, Bathurst
Situated just outside of Bathurst, on a stunning heritage estate and working farm established in 1823, is Bathurst Grange. It’s a family affair here, with local ingredients and sustainable ethos to the fore in their gin and whisky creations. Their 2023 Rose Garden Gin and Bourbon Cask Single Malt are both World Spirits Competition gold medalists and perfect for sipping from their cellar door overlooking the Blue Mountains.
Corowa Distilling Co, Corowa
Corowa Distilling Co founder, Dean Bruce, is something of a legend in the spirits scene. After buying an old flour mill for a dollar, he turned it into a multi-million dollar distillery business focusing on pushing Australian-style whiskey. His first batch sold out in 24 hours and, in Dan Murphy’s inaugural blind-taste Decoded Spirit Awards, took out Australia’s best whiskey. Barely in NSW, make sure to drop in for a drop of Australia’s finest.
Earp Distilling Co, Newcastle
Earp Distilling was founded on the principles of high-quality, small-batch, bespoke distilling and has managed to deliver on that and much much more. A Carrington hub in its own right, Earp has an excellent menu, service, live music, tours, and masterclasses, ticking a lot of boxes for the locals. But their spirits aren’t simple crowd-pleasers either, with multiple medal winners amongst the ranks of their ports, brandies, rums, gins, and vodkas.
The Farmer’s Wife Distillery, Allworth
A 45-minute drive north of Newcastle, The Farmer’s Wife Distillery sees gin made by a family of third-generation farmers. Commitment to the craft is paramount here, with single-shot distillation in a traditional copper still being employed. Native sage, lemon myrtle, pepper berry, and juniper are balanced on Australian cane sugar-neutral spirit before being layered with grapefruit and honey. Their Autumn Dry Gin is a Signature Botanical World Gin Awards Gold winner for a reason.
North of Eden, Bega
North of Eden Artisan Distillers has been turning heads since husband and wife Gavin and Karen turned an old farm shed into a distillery in 2018. Nestled amongst the rolling hills of the Sapphire Coast, the team here is all about using local ingredients, which includes empty oyster shells to purify their vodka. Its dedication has earned it international accolades for both its gins and vodkas and they are an absolute must-do on the south-coast foodie trail.
Related: 7 Winery Accommodation Spots in NSW For When You’re Done Sipping and Swirling
Related: 20 Beautiful Places in NSW to Inspire Your Next Road Trip
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