The only thing cooler than drinking gin these days is opening a gin distillery. If you can’t quite swing the production side of gin, why not pay tribute to the spirit and celebrate World Gin Day on 8 June. Here are the finest places in town to get sipping and start dreaming.
Where to be-gin
World Gin Day with Melbourne Gin Co
The Melbourne Gin Company has become an essential part of the city’s love affair with gin, and their 11th annual World Gin Day celebrations are not to be missed. Housed in the iconic surrounds of The European, spend Saturday 8 June sipping on gin with a twist. Over the three course meal, chief winemaker Andrew Marks will be pairing each dish with a unique cocktail combining bespoke gin with a variety of wines. Sure to be a gin-uine delight!
Colourful gin courtesy of the Melbourne Gin Co
World Gin Day at Boatbuilders Yard
Gin paddles, gin cocktails and ‘chac packs’ (over loaded charcuterie platters) are a match made in heaven, made even more heavenly with the waterside views at Boatbuilders Yard. Party late into the night at their World Gin Day celebration, where your favourite gins will go perfectly with the live entertainment and sparkling city sunset.
Gin wonderland at Hophaus
If you love gin then hop, skip and/or jump your way to Hophaus’ Gin Wonderland. An entire afternoon will be dedicated to gin from the likes of Four Pillars, Martin Miller’s, The Botanist, Archie Rose and Adelaide Hills Distillery. Peruse gin stalls, take a mini gin masterclass, taste a canapé or two and bop along to the DJ beats.
The bottomless G&Tea party at State of Grace
Launching on the long weekend, this high tea take on gin at State of Grace is definitely fit for a Queen. Settle in under the sparkling chandeliers and indulge in two hours of endless house infused gin, sweet treats and savoury bites. Then take a tumble down the rabbit hole and uncover their secret hidden door.
G meets tea at State of Grace’s bottomless G&Tea party
Gin month at Chuckle Park
World Gin Day who? Real gin aficionados know that this mighty spirit deserves a full 30 days of celebration. All throughout June Chuckle Park will be hosting different boutique gin producers – like Melbourne Moonshine Company and Cedar Fox Distilling Co – to create an entire month of bespoke G&Ts, DIY cocktails, gin-themed park parties, gin goon bags (seriously) and more. All gin month events are free, so sip away and let the good times be-gin!
Celebrate a month of gin at Chuckle Park
Gin Palace
Gins of all description grace the menu of Gin Palace with its cosy nooks and masterful martinis. Pleasingly plush, the palace welcome guests until well after midnight. Food can be ordered from the bar, partnering a cocktail or two in high style.
Little Lon Distilling Co
Inside a Melbourne cottage dating from the 1800s, Little Lon Distilling Co draws on the city’s rich bohemian history. Creating a handcrafted range of small batch gins, it’s a distillery and atmospheric cocktail bar all in one – so look no further for the hand of the maker. Want more? Meet (and become) the maker at one of their gin masterclasses.
Little Lon
Looking for more?
Based in the historic Federation Wharf vaults, Pilgrim Bar enjoys a riverside vibe and a generous list of liquid moonlight by Australian distillers. At the Berlin Bar try a “Klee Clover”, a gin sour shot with fresh lemon and raspberry. Will you sip in their luxe West Berlin room or stark East Berlin zone?
On Tuesdays you can slide a tenner across the bar at The Mill House Bar for a craft creation at its weekly gin club. Another Melbourne bar with a nose for fine gin is 1806, one of the city’s classiest cocktail dens. If you enjoy gin classics like the Southside, Aviation or Tom Collins, no one shakes ‘em better.
Drop by to sample the weekly craft creation at The Mill House Bar’s Tuesday gin club
Please drink responsibly.