Sip from the source and stock up on local drops at these Gold Coast distilleries

Familiar Spirits, Burleigh Heads
Tucked away in Burleigh’s industrial precinct, Familiar Spirits is a cosy, family-run distillery and working cellar door founded by Lana and Justin Bell. The intimate space champions small-batch, house-made spirits – including a standout signature gin – which underscores its thoughtfully crafted menu of classic and inventive cocktails. The popular distillery also serve a share-friendly menu of snacks and indulgent desserts, perfectly paired with your sip of choice.

Granddad Jack’s, Miami
Granddad Jack’s, which is inspired by and named after the family’s beloved grandfather, started out as a gin-centric craft distillery and has since expanded into single-barrel whisky, vodka and coffee liqueurs. Over the years, Granddad Jack’s has cemented itself as a big name in the spirits game – and all of its award-winning creations are on pour at its Miami distillery and bar. Enjoy cocktails and tastings or join in on one of the weekend tours to see the magic firsthand. Granddad Jack’s also hosts private distillery experiences where you can make your own bottle of gin on site from scratch.

Six Tricks Distilling Co, Mermaid Beach
Six Tricks loves to bend the rules, making it the perfect stop for curious cocktail enthusiasts looking to shake things up. The forward-thinking artisan distillery is named after its ability to craft six core spirit types – rum, whisk(e)y, vodka, gin, agave and brandy – so there’s a little something for everyone. The tasting room features a breezy sun deck, a laid-back beer garden, a private lounge area and a striking bar where talented mixologists work their magic.

Capricorn Distilling Co, Burleigh Heads
At the heart of this award-winning rum and gin distillery is its cellar door, where you can enjoy tasting paddles, straight pours and crafted cocktails. Capricorn Distillery also offers free tours through its working distillery, taking rum fans and gin drinkers behind the scenes of the distilling processes from start to finish – and you can sample drops along the way. There are plenty of fun spirits to try in the tasting room, like the pineapple rum.

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Burly Gin, Burleigh Heads and Currumbin
Burly first came to life in Burleigh Heads back in 2022, after co-founder Piri Bennett side-stepped from his extensive background in bourbon distilling into the wonderful world of gin. Created to offer a contemporary and more refreshing alternative to traditionally harsh London dry gins, the Burly range features the vanilla-infused Cucumber Gin, Berry Gin (elderberries, raspberries and strawberries) and Citrus Gin (blood orange, finger lime and spices), which are each housed in distinctive long-neck bottles. Those keen to try Burly gins first-hand can head to its main distillery in Burleigh Heads, or try its off-site cellar-door experience – the newly opened Burly Bar in Currumbin.

Wildflower Gin, Varsity Lakes
This small-batch distillery is known for its trio of award-winning gins, headlined by its popular Signature Gin (aka Burleigh in a bottle), which is made with honey from its founder’s backyard bee hives. As its name suggests, the Wildflower gins are based on the delicate flavours from the bees that visit Burleigh’s flowers. And for an extra dose of provenance, the distillery invites locals to be part of its gin-making by contributing flowers from their own backyard. The distillery’s cellar door opens for gin-based cocktails so you can sip through the range, and the team also run two-hour gin-making masterclasses and group cocktail-making classes.

Panezski Artisan Distillery, Upper Coomera
Hidden away in Upper Coomera, Panezski Artisan Distillery is bringing a little old-world craftsmanship to the northern Gold Coast. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Paul and Vanessa Chapman, this family-run operation takes a considered, small-batch approach to spirit-making, drawing on European traditions while putting its own Australian spin on the process. The range ventures beyond the usual gin and vodka offerings, with smooth wheat vodkas, rye expressions and distinctive spirits such as Krupnik and Aguardiente. Visitors can pull up a seat in the intimate tasting room, sample the range or settle in with a cocktail and something to nibble on. It’s a welcoming little spot for anyone who enjoys discovering something different.

Husk Distillery, Tumbulgum
The home of Husk Rum and Ink Gin opens the doors to its picturesque distillery and farm daily. If it’s your first time to Husk, booking a tour is the best way to experience the incredible single-estate distillery and witness the full farm-to-bottle process in all its glory. Tours include a welcome drink and complimentary tastings of the rum range and gin gauntlet, and you can stick around to enjoy cocktails at the Husk bar afterwards or settle in for a long lunch at Planter’s Kitchen overlooking the lush estate.

Tamborine Mountain Distillery, Tamborine Mountain
From humble beginnings in 1993, Tamborine Mountain Distillery is one of the longest-running spirit makers in Queensland. Opting for small-batch distillation, the team utilises mountain rainwater and locally grown fruits, herbs and spices to create its range sprits that capture the essence of the region. The distillery opens to the public for tastings, tours and hands-on classes, so locals and visitors can sip through more than 80 different varieties of gin, vodka, rum, schnapps, brandy, grappa and more.

LOBORN, Tamborine Mountain
Centuries-old aperitif amaro has been given a modern-day glow-up thanks to Tom Drewett, the founder of LOBORN. With most amaro originating in Italy, Tom set out to reinvent the bitter aperitif using local Australian botanicals. The result? A contemporary Australian amaro that gives a nod to the spirit’s Italian roots while showcasing a distinctly local Tamborine Mountain flavour. You can sip and sample LOBORN’s range of aperitifs and cocktails at its on-site tasting room on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Cauldron Estate & Distillery, Tamborine Mountain
A picturesque hinterland setting, award-winning gin and plenty of room to settle in for an afternoon? Cauldron Estate & Distillery is well worth the winding drive up Tamborine Mountain. Set amongst the greenery of an expansive estate on Hartley Road, this destination distillery is best known for its Five To Five gin range, which draws inspiration from the surrounding landscape and Australian botanicals. Visitors can work their way through a tasting paddle, sip cocktails overlooking the grounds or enjoy a bite from Cauldron Kitchen. For those keen to get a little more hands-on, there are also distillery experiences and gin-blending classes. With its relaxed atmosphere and scenic surrounds, it’s an excellent excuse to make a day of it.