When it comes to gin, some facts just can’t be denied. Whether it’s in the hands of Sean Connery (shaken, not stirred), or handed to you as the perfect negroni, it’s obvious that gin holds the current title of king among spirits.
As gin enjoys a massive resurgence in the Australian bar scene—thanks, in part, to distillers dabbling in the spirit’s broad range of flavour profiles—Brisbane connoisseurs are reaping the rewards.
Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, make sure you walk into these Brisbane gin bars.
Granddad Jacks
Albion
Recognise the name Granddad Jack’s? That might be because of their Gold Coast distillery—but the southern fave has finally made its way here and we couldn’t be happier. If this is your first visit to Grandad Jack’s, you’ll want to start with a gin tasting board of three gins, before moving on to their cocktails. Bonus, it’s dog-friendly and you can BYO food.
Brisbane Distillery
West End
With a 23 metre long cocktail bar lined with endless bottles of Brisbane Distillery’s very own spirits, you’re spoilt for choice here. Sip your way through their lengthy list of creative cocktails or just sample their range of gins with a perfectly matched tonic—you can even learn to make your very own gin at their gin school.
Eleven Bridges
South Brisbane
This moody bar and distillery is in a prime spot tucked away on Peel Street just a stone throw from GOMA and QPAC. While they do craft their own gin, there’s also plenty of other boutique bottles on their shelves—over 150 to be exact. Lucky the crew at Eleven Bridges have paired each one with it’s perfect mixer, so you don’t have to attempt to choose that as well.
Warehouse 25
Milton
What’s better than a distillery? A multi-level distillery and bar with live music of course. Previously a secret location for warehouse parties, the secret is out and the space has been transformed into Warehouse 25, a gin and vodka distillery complete with a bar, pizzeria, underground function space and a mezzanine dance floor. We hear their boozy Sunday brunches go off.
Dutch Courage
Fortitude Valley
At Dutch Courage, gin savants are whisked back to the days of brawny adventures and glittering Gatsby-esque affairs. Raise a glass in the plantation-style bar, dressed in vintage, safari décor, and you really can’t go wrong. If you’re new to the scene, the bartenders at Brisbane’s first gin bar are old hat: they’ll lead you through the different styles of G&T, crafty cocktails like the Hendrick’s Teapot, or straight-up serves of the world’s finest gins. They also do a gin bathtub—need we say more?
Proud Henry's
Brisbane CBD
Perched loftily over the bar, Proud Henry is the name of the stuffed peacock tasked with guarding over 280 varieties of gin. The bar’s owners have scoured the globe for hard-to-find varietals, ready to craft hand-tailored concoctions for patrons like an apothecary of the old days. With acoustic music in the evenings and Spanish charcuterie to pair with your next gin flight, it’ll prove hard to leave Proud Henry alone with his gin.
Covent Garden
West End
Where beer halls beckon for noise, platters of carbs and lots of yelling, Covent Garden matches the refinement of gin at every corner. Named after London’s famous dining and cultural precinct, Covent Garden is the secret tropical oasis of Brisbane’s West End. Through the doors, you’ll discover a lofty, open-aired garden slinging pitchers of gin cocktails, share boards and–if you’re lucky–the venue’s famous G & High Tea.
BOSC
West End
Ordering a G&T never felt so good. At BOSC, or Bar of Social Conscience, 20% of bar profits are donated to an orphanage in Mexico. Oh, and it’s dog friendly. Hold. My. Glass. The walls of this West End bar are lined with lip-smacking gins, including the house specialty: Cutlass and Sabre. We’re not sure a bar could get any cooler.
Finished sipping that G&T? Taste-test your next varietal at these local gin distilleries.
Image credit: Dutch Courage