Boutique distilleries, hidden cocktail bars and local gin joints. There’s a spot to sip your favourite botanical blend on every leg of the Great Ocean Road. Join us as we tour the gin trail, tasting our way down the coast. Stop in for a quick gin flight or find a spot to spend an afternoon if you’re staying nearby (or you have a designated driver on hand!)

Apollo Bay Distillery

This one’s for the storytellers and history buffs. Apollo Bay Distillery’s boutique gins are steeped in the local folklore surrounding the Shipwreck Coast. The distillery is housed in the old town post office and gins are made onsite using local botanicals. Meet the maker for a tasting paddle and see the beautiful copper column still. Be sure to try the SS Casino blend, named after the shipwreck in Apollo Bay. Then enjoy a G&T with a woodfired pizza on the deck overlooking the foreshore.

Otways Distillery – Forrest

High in the hinterlands, this micro distillery is doing brilliant things with gin. These organic spirits showcase the flavours of The Otways, with locally sourced and foraged ingredients. The crew don’t stop at gin. They also whip up small batch vodka, limoncello, blood orangecello and a grappa-style moonshine. You can find the Otways Distillery gin at the Forrest General Store, where you can get tastings of all the tipples.

Noodledoof Brewing and Distilling Co – Koroit

You won’t find many noodles at Noodledoof, what you will find is some seriously good brews. This craft brewery and distillery is found in a refurbished motor garage in the little village of Koroit. There’s something for every taste here, whether you’re a beer connoisseur or gin junkie. Noodledoof’s gins are a collaboration with the local Aboriginal corporation Worn Gundidj and they hero indigenous botanicals such as correa alba, lemon myrtle and mountain pepper. The beers change seasonally, so there’s always something new to discover. They’ve also got a stacked menu of hearty comfort food to soak up all those drinks.

Suffoir Winery, Brewery and Distillery – MacArthur

All the good things in life have collided to create this one-stop bevvy shop in MacArthur. This working farm is home to a micro-winery, brewery, cidery, distillery and cellar door. Family-owned and operated, everything is produced onsite in small quantities. It’s a must-visit when heading to nearby Budj Bim National Park. Pull up a seat at the cellar door for a tasting (gin, beer or wine, the choice is yours) or settle in with a cheeseboard.

Casterton Distilling Co. – Casterton

Head north from Portland and continue your gin journey. Inside Casterton’s historical Albion Hotel lies a small batch craft gin distillery where everything is made onsite. Stop in for lunch and a tasting and see what other goodies they have in store. The warm and friendly staff make a visit to Casterton as educational as it is delicious. Watch the makers at work, or take a masterclass with the head distiller to create your own dream gin.