Of all the Gin Joints in Australia
Since long before we launched ten years ago, we’ve enjoyed keeping an eye on the gin happenings near and far. Happily, gin has been at the forefront of the craft cocktail movement around the world over the last 15 years or so, and today there are some great gin joints around Australia mixing our tasty juniper juice.
We’ve shared before on how bars such as Gin Palace, which opened in Melbourne in 1997(!) —long before gin was fashionable—and The Barber Shop in Sydney’s CBD (est. 2013) have led the way in bringing gin to a wider audience.
This month, we would like to highlight some of our favourite bars around Australia for a top-notch gin drink, and a great time overall!
If you are looking for an exceptional glass of gin, there are plenty of places to hang your hat in NSW. If you're in Sydney's CBD, you can head up to Old Mate's Place and sip a crisp, cold, dry martini with our Signature Dry Gin on their rooftop. Looking for a warm, neighbourly welcome with a cold G&T? Stop by The Hive Bar in Erskineville, these folks know our quality so well that they've been using our gin since the beginning.
Want to celebrate native ingredients twinned with creativity and innovation? The Waratah has you covered with a weekly changing menu; there's always a new gin drink to try. Further afield, in Newcastle, you can sip martinis at Bar Mellow, savour Negronis at Coal and Cedar and have a Gin Fizz at The Falcon. Head down to Wollongong and look no further than Roy's Restobar and The Black Cockatoo for your Archie Rose gin fix.
In Canberra, Bar Rochford is one of the best places to get a cocktail in the country, and gin is always a well-considered option on their list. Despite it being known as a whisky bar (and an excellent one at that), head into Molly, where you can find a wide range of Archie Rose gins and a team that really know how to use them. Close to Federal Parliament in Kingston, you'll find Onzieme — a wonderful spot for dinner—and you can head downstairs to 11e Cave, where they can make you anything your heart desires, with gin or any other spirit for that matter.
Over the years, we've had some great spots to get your juniper fix out west. Mechanics Institute has been a staple venue in Perth for over a decade, and there is still no sweeter spot to spend a few hours sipping a G&T on the deck in the sunshine. Memorable experiences are made with an Archie Rose Bone Dry Gin Martini at Foxtrot Unicorn, possibly Perth's premier cocktail bar and always on the "must visit" list, with their riff on a classic, 'The Chamomile Martini', made by Shirley Yeung. Simply unforgettable. Pop around the corner to Terrarium for a Mulberry Smash and the biggest selection of Archie Rose in WA, and if you need a nightcap, make your way down to Brookfield Place and experience the luxurious surroundings and hospitality that Bar Lafayette has to offer.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a Melbourne cocktail lover who hasn't spent time inside The Everleigh; Melbourne's most revered classic cocktail bar. Ask for their house Martini, and you'll receive a superbly crafted mix of Straight Dry Gin and house vermouth blend, served the way you like it. For those wanting to kick on a little later, head into the CBD, where the Heartbreaker Bar delivers crimson-lit rock n roll vibes and the team pours a perfect G&T over crystal clear ice while you put your favourite songs on their jukebox. Heading south of the city? Our friends at Studio Amaro are dishing up some of Prahran's most revered Italian dishes, complemented by a cocktail menu that shouts Archie Rose on every page. For an inner north suburbs contrast; our mates at Henry Sugar are pairing some of Carlton's best contemporary cocktails and adventurous yet approachable dishes, synchronised with wholesome neighbourhood vibes. Finally, how can we NOT mention a Melbourne rooftop bar? Good Heavens is the place where Melbourne locals and visitors alike want to spend their sunny afternoons. Their menu rotates with the seasons, with our Harvest gins recently gaining the spotlight on the back bar alongside the ubiquitous Signature Dry Gin — a house staple.
If you find yourself in South Australia, pull up at Adelaide institution Hains & Co, which has one of the finest curations of local and obscure gin (and rum) from across the globe—and always a bottle of our epic Distiller's Strength Gin on hand. Or, if you're chasing a more intimate experience, meet Vini at Bar Peripheral and let the drinks wizard himself whip up an unforgettable concoction that you'll never forget.
Brisbane is not short of bars with vast selections of spirits, and this city has some of our favourite watering holes in the country. The Gresham is an incredible-looking bar steeped in history that offers some of the highest calibre rum, whisky, and gin in the country and is always reliable for a top-quality gin drink. Other favourites are Alba Bar and Deli (neighbourhood bar vibes in the middle of the city with Spanish bites and cocktails), Frogs Hollow Saloon (always a good time) and the Terrace Rooftop Bar at Emporium (for sweeping views and cocktails no matter the weather).
Ans as always, our home base — our Rosebery Cellar Door and Bar is a gin-soaked drinking experience with our full range of gin on hand. Ten years of making great gin and counting!
