GET IN THE SPIRIT

There’s a lively collective of spirit distillers doing their thing in the Great Ocean Road Region. Find them at the beach, on the rail trail and in the ancient forests. Level up your spirit game with our pick of the must-do gin and whisky experiences.

• Timboon Railway Shed Distillery, Timboon (above)

Soak up the ambience of restored railway shed and new batch of single malt whisky bubbling and steaming in a copper pot still as you ogle the largest collection of true Aussie craft spirits in the country. timboondistillery.com.au

• Apollo Bay Distillery, Apollo Bay Sample boutique, local gins linked with the old maritime folklores of the Great Ocean Road. Exotic and hand-crafted, using local botanicals. Dive into a gin flight and bring the spirit of the town alive. apollobaydistillery.com.au

• Neart Tide Distillery, Portland nearttidedistillery.com

With names like Orca Vodka and Noblemen Gin, these spirits evoke the stories that stand behind them. Distilled for strength and character, using natural local flavour elements.

• Suffoir Winery, Brewery and Distillery, Macarthur

This family-owned and operated farm produces everything sustainably on site, including small batch gin and a distilled pinot noir named The Black Sheep in honour of the property’s flock of Suffolk sheep. Why not enjoy a light lunch with a gin paddle in a unique rural setting? suffoirwines.com.au

• Casterton Distilling Co., Casterton

Join a Distilling Master Class and become the master of your own gin creation. While the Head Distiller shares his secrets and guides you through choosing and distilling your own unique blend, you get to sample the pick of local produce and sip on a gin cocktail or two. Sublime! castertondistilling.com.au