The Ultimate Gold Coast Distillery Trail: 8 Must-Visit Craft Gin Joints, Rum Cellars & Tasting Tours

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The Ultimate Gold Coast Distillery Trail: 8 Must-Visit Craft Gin Joints, Rum Cellars & Tasting Tours

On the hunt for an unforgettable Gold Coast distillery experience? You've struck gold. Queensland's sun-soaked playground is quietly building a reputation as a serious craft spirits destination, with a growing collective of artisan makers distilling everything from small-batch botanical gins to world-award-winning rums. Whether you're a seasoned spirits enthusiast or just someone who loves uncovering local flavours, the Gold Coast distillery scene offers an enticing mix of cellar-door tastings, behind-the-scenes tours, and hands-on workshops. Here's your essential guide to the best distilleries on the Gold Coast.

Granddad Jack's Craft Distillery

Tucked away in Miami, Granddad Jack's holds the title of the Gold Coast's original craft distillery. This family-run operation has built a loyal following with its core gin range — Greenhouse, 65 Miles and Two Pencils — alongside small-batch vodka, coffee liqueur and delightfully quirky seasonal releases like Pavlova Gin and Pumpkin Spice Moonshine. Roll in on a weekend, claim a stool and soak up the live tunes while working through a gin-tasting paddle. The on-site bar team are masters of their craft, shaking up cocktails from spirits distilled just metres away. Book ahead for a Saturday behind-the-scenes tour to learn about the distilling process, or go all-in with the 'craft your own gin' workshop where you walk away with a bottle made entirely by you. The pick: Greenhouse Gin — light, clean and beachy, with delicate notes of cucumber, rosehip, lemon myrtle, grapefruit peel and juniper. Find it at 45 Lemana Lane, Miami.

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Capricorn Distilling Co.

Originally born in Rockhampton under the much-loved Saleyards Distillery banner, Capricorn Distilling Co. brought its magic south and set up shop in Burleigh Heads — and Gold Coast drinkers are all the better for it. The headliner is their spiced rum, which famously took out 'World's Best Spiced Rum' at London's World Rum Awards. The range also features a barrel-aged gin and a vibrant summer gin infused with 19 botanicals, including native finger lime, ruby grapefruit and lemon myrtle. Their Burleigh Heads cellar door (open Tuesday to Friday) is the kind of spot where you can settle in for a cocktail or tasting paddle with a cheese board and lose an afternoon. Book a free distillery tour guided by one of the head distillers — you'll go deep on the production process and taste through the award-winning rum and gin lineup. The pick: Coffee Rum, crafted from locally sourced molasses and cold brew, with whispers of caramel and vanilla from time spent in ex-bourbon barrels. 21 Ern Harley Drive, Burleigh Heads.

Wildflower Gin

This award-winning boutique distillery in Varsity Lakes started as a humble cellar door before locals convinced founder James Greig to open an on-site bar — and thank goodness they did. The space channels industrial-chic vibes with leather lounges, exposed brick walls and old barrels repurposed as tables, with bonus points for being dog-friendly and home to resident distillery pups. The signature Wildflower Gin is a standout, blending juniper, lemon myrtle and a whisper of honey sourced from the distiller's own backyard hives. Fancy yourself a mixologist? Sign up for a cocktail masterclass or go deeper with the Gin Masterclass where you'll distill your own bottle. The pick: Lamington Vodka — a uniquely Australian spirit distilled with local strawberries, cocoa and coconut, built on pure Australian wheat and Tamborine Mountain water. 2/486 Scottsdale Drive, Varsity Lakes.

Miami Booze Traders

For 14 years, Miami Marketta has been the Gold Coast's beating heart of live music, street food and after-dark revelry — and its latest venture, Miami Booze Traders, is taking the good times home. This in-house distillery crafts premium spirits and ready-to-pour cocktails including a dangerously good Espresso Martini, Negroni and Purple Haze Margarita, alongside small-batch gins and a lovely limoncello. The standout experience is The Art of Gin — a guided tasting session held every Thursday night inside the dedicated Gin Parlour. Over the course of an hour, you'll sample four Australian gins distilled with native botanicals, each paired with international cheeses, and served with different mixers and garnishes to tease out every flavour note. Essential booking. 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami.

Six Tricks Distilling Co

Hidden away in Mermaid Waters near Pacific Fair, Six Tricks Distilling Co. does exactly what its name suggests — crafts six different spirits entirely from scratch: rum, whisky, vodka, gin, agave and brandy, all under one roof. The spacious tasting room features a sophisticated main bar, a Sunset Deck, a breezy beer garden and a private lounge, with live musicians setting the mood on weekends. The pick: Coolangatta Gin, inspired by the sparkling blue coastline and distilled with native sun-dried mandarin, lime and orange, finished with natural blue botanicals for a striking pour. 3 Brightlands Court, Mermaid Beach.

Husk Farm Distillery

Okay, it's technically across the border in New South Wales, but at just 15 minutes south of Coolangatta, Husk Farm Distillery is an honorary Gold Coast institution. Set on a sprawling rural property with sweeping green vistas, an on-site restaurant and Australia's only single-estate rum distillery, it's a day-trip destination in its own right. The golden rum is made from sugar cane grown right there on the farm, using sustainable 'full-circle' distilling practices. Book a tasting trail or distillery tour — all include a welcome drink and guided tastings. Afterwards, grab a table in the sunny courtyard and graze on eats from Planter's Kitchen, open seven days. The pick: Ink Gin, the famous colour-changing gin that transforms from deep blue to blush pink with a squeeze of citrus. 1152 Dulguigan Road, North Tumbulgum.

Panezski Artisan Distillery

This small-batch operation on the northern Gold Coast is on a mission to craft the perfect Polish vodka, using family recipes passed down through generations. Panezski is one of the few Australian distilleries producing 100% of its spirits from raw ingredients, selecting only the finest grains. The 1920s-style tasting room and cocktail lounge is the spot to share a meal while sampling their silky rye and wheat vodka or their bright citrus gin. The pick: Melasa, a molasses vodka with velvety depth, rich sweetness and aromas of brown sugar and caramel. 2 Sierra Place, Upper Coomera.

Gold Coast Distillery Tours

Want someone else to do the driving? Hop On Brewery Tours runs dedicated distillery trails that connect three venues over four hours, complete with guided tastings of vodka, rum and gin, behind-the-scenes insights at each stop, and a generous lunch along the way. It's the ultimate fuss-free way to experience the Gold Coast distillery scene without worrying about a designated driver.