My favourite day of the year has to be World Gin Day, a global celebration of all things gin! With the explosion of Australian gins, World Gin Day 2017 is going to be a cracker!

I take my role as Australian Ambassador for World Gin Day very seriously and have been busy checking  the global website for all the fantastic Australian events that are happening. You can see the full list here, but I’ve picked a few highlights, to help you plan your day!

MELBOURNE/VICTORIA

My home town has always been fantastic at organising World Gin Day events, not surprising given the number of new distilleries popping up. There is lots to choose from!

Visit Four Pillars Gin Distillery ~ 10.30am-9pm

Free gin tastings all weekend, including the newly released Bloody Shiraz Gin, cocktail specials, freshly baked scones with Four Pillars Orange Marmalade, and a food truck serving pulled (gin) pork burgers made with Four Pillars Gin Pig.

Open from 10.30am each day, until 9pm on Saturday and 5.30pm on Sunday. Free entry.

Gin Extravaganza at Gin Palace ~ 12pm-3am

Gin Palace Melbourne ALWAYS puts on a great World Gin Day and this year is no exception.
The Gin Palace will be transformed for one day only into a Harem of Juniper pleasures.
Events include:
• A Four Pillars 3 martini lunch focusing on local produce (22 seats available) – Book tickets here.
• Brookie’s Botanical Brunch, with 3 cocktails and light snacks – Book tickets here.
• Poor Toms Strawberries and cream martini
• Plymouth Martini massages.
• Hendricks Tea Party – Down the rabbit hole Swamp Room take over
• Gin and Gin Palace inspired cake, cupcakes and lollies
• Special performances and entertainment.
• 2 for one martinis, negronis and G&Ts from midday until 8pm

Open 12pm – 3am

Book tickets here:

Artemis Gin x Taxi Kitchen

In celebration of World Gin Day on Saturday 10th June, Taxi Kitchen and Artemis Gin are collaborating to bring you an afternoon of food and gin.
5 iconic Taxi Kitchen courses matched with 5 bespoke Artemis cocktails, all inspired by the gins botanicals. Tickets  are $150pp and include a bottle of specially distilled Artemis x Taxi Kitchen gin to take home.
Call 9923 2065 or email [email protected]

Sit down for an intimate discussion over gin with Sacha La Forgia from Adelaide Hills Distillery and get to know the distiller’s production and distilling methods as well as learn about, taste the variety of Adelaide Hills Distillery gins on offer, and get an exclusive sneak peek at new products coming out.

A fun and intimate way to experience AHD gins and learn the story behind the relatively young distillery, which has seen much success since its inception in 2014. For example, their 78˚ Gin received a Gold Medal, The Italian a Silver Medal and The Gunnery a Bronze Medal at The 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Tickets are $50pp and include

• A welcome negroni and Bad Frankie (signature) jaffle
• 2 hours with the distiller to learn about the history, production and gins of AHD
• 3 X tasters of AHD gins
• An exclusive look at new products on the horizon
• A gin cocktail and sweet to finish

Book here.

Bass & Flinders Gin Degustation at Papa Goose ~7pm

A four course gin degustation at Papa Goose showcasing the Bass & Flinders range.

Tickets are $140pp. To book call Papa Goose on 03 9077 8117 or email [email protected]

Kilderkin Distillery Open Day

The Kilderkin team will be distilling their first small batch Navy Strength gin on World Gin Day! Plus tours, tastings, and drinks.

Kilderkin Distillery, 11A Michaels Dr, Alfredton VIC 3350, Australia

12-5pm

Melbourne Gin Company Takeover of Mountain Goat Beer

The Melbourne Gin Company will be celebrating World Gin Day at Mountain Goat Brewery!
MGC distiller Andrew Marks will host a Botanical Masterclass followed by drinks at the bar with MGC cocktails, Mountain Goat Beer and Pizza!
Masterclass from 4.30pm – 5.30pm (ticket includes MGC G&T) Book here.
Drinks at the bar 6pm – Late

SYDNEY

The Barbershop presents Mother’s Ruin A Cabaret About Gin ~ 6-9pm

The Barbershop presents a bespoke cocktail menu and a performance of critically acclaimed hit, Mother’s Ruin: A Cabaret about Gin.

Tickets are $35pp. Book here.

All tickets will receive a Bombay Gin Cocktail on arrival.

Doors open from 6:00pm. No reserve seating.

Manly Spirits Co. Distillery ~ 1.30-5.30pm

Join the team from Manly Spirits Co. Distillery and Gin Lane for an exclusive tour and tasting at the distillery beginning at 1.30pm. Following the tasting feel free to settle in, chat and sip some very tasty Gin cocktails on offer in the Distillery Tasting Bar.

Food will be available from a food truck on site.

$22 per person, book tickets here.

ADELAIDE

Hains & Co Gin Garden

Hains & Co will be hosting a Gin Garden – think Alice in Wonderland but for adults…who love gin.

Festivities kick off at 6pm – every hour, on the hour, they’ll introduce a must-try gin (and G&T) and will have each company’s brand ambassadors on hand to talk about all things gin.
Featuring  78 Degrees, Melbourne Gin Company, Ferdinands Dry Saar, Fair Gin, Tanqueray, and Rogue Society gins.

From the crew in The Galley, Gin Soaked Smoked Skirt Steak Tacos, Elote Corn Salsa, Spiced Slaw, Candied Jalapeños will be part of the night’s menu.

Free Admission

BRISBANE

Dutch Courage Officer’s Mess ~ 11.30am til late

Featuring five masterclasses, live entertainment, all day specials & massive giveaways – does a whole bottle of gin every hour whet your appetite?! – what more could a gin lover want? With experts from Martin Millers, Fever Tree, Botanist, Jinzu, Tanqueray, Kangaroo Island Spirits and even Brisbane’s very own Humpybong Distillery on hand to answer every gin nerd’s questions, it’s a pilgrimage where everybody ends up in heaven!

Masterclass Times
11.30am – The history of gin w/ Kangaroo Island Spirits (Jon Lark)
1.00pm – Enjoying food & gin together w/ Jinzu (Jaime Fleming)
2.30pm- Making gin cocktails w/ Botanist & Gin Mare (Mark Hickey)
4.00pm – Pairing tonic to your favourite gin w/ Fever Tree (Glenn Morgan)
5.30pm – Sensory spices & basket distillation w/ Martin Millers (Amy Grieg)
* session topics & times subject to change

Book here

I hope you’ve got some ideas on how to spend World Gin Day. You can follow my adventures on instagram – I’ll be at Junipalooza London – or check out the #worldginday hashtag to see what everyone else is up to.

It’s a fantastic day, so please drink responsibly.