Five new Australian spirits you need to try

Small distilleries continue to multiply at an incredible pace in Australia, bringing to market an unprecedented array of new and exciting spirits.

The distillers' wares will be on full display come Sunday September 17, when the third annual Indie Spirits Tasting arrives in Sydney.

"This year we are moving to a bigger venue, the beautiful Restaurant Hubert," says the event's founder David Spanton. "This has afforded us the opportunity to host more than 150 independent spirit brands, including 25 local Australian distilleries,"

Among the debutants is South Australian start-up Never Never Distilling Co, which will be showcasing its triple juniper gin, "brimming with the brightness of the best juniper in the world, air freighted in for freshness".

Tasmania's Hellfire Bluff will be in attendance with its potato vodka, while Demoiselle Distillery from the NSW central tablelands will present an absinthe featuring native botanicals.

The organisers say it is a testament to the health of the industry that bars such as Melbourne's Bad Frankie are able to stock exclusively local craft spirits.

It's a dramatically changed drinks landscape to that of just a decade ago, when Melbourne's Starward Whisky arrived on the scene.

"I'm a committee member in the Australian Distillers Association and we now have more than 100 distillers registered as full members," says Starward founder David Vitale. "10 years ago you could count them on two hands. It's exploded over the last decade, there's no doubt about that.

"Like any area, I think you'll probably see the craft spirits scene consolidate over time. It's probably unsustainable to have 100 different gins on the market," he says.

Until then, says Vitale, Australians will be spoilt for choice. Here are some new and exciting Aussie spirits you that can find at good bottle shops and bars right now.

Starward Distillery Tenth Anniversary Bottling

Melbourne's Starward has released some truly innovative whiskies in its first decade of operations, none moreso than a single batch finished in a barrel that had previously held its own house-made ginger beer. This new celebratory bottling has been created from a marriage of eight barrel types used across the company's history, resulting in a big, sweet whisky with complex dried fruit components.

RRP $190, 700ml twin-pack, starward.com.au

Charles Oates Distilling Apple Blanco

Tasmanian organic cider maker Willie Smith's put in a still last year, with somewhat pragmatic motivations. Any cider that does not meet its quality standards can now be distilled into apple brandy. Apple Blanco is the sister product to its oak matured Fine Apple Brandy, which is modelled on the French spirit calvados. Dry and delicately spicy, the unaged Blanco is enjoyable on its own or in a variety of aperitif cocktails.

RRP $95, 700ml, williesmiths.com.au

Southern Wild Distillery Dasher + Fisher Gin

The beautifully packaged trio of Dasher + Fisher gins have been created by distiller and food technologist George Burgess in Devonport, Tasmania, each using different Tasmanian botanicals. 'Mountain' features native pepperberry, 'Meadow' heroes lavender and 'Ocean' includes wakame seaweed.

RRP $90, 200ml three-pack, southernwilddistillery.com

Adelaide Hills Distillery The Italian Bitter Orange

Inspired by classic Italian bitter orange aperitifs, The Italian marries traditional European bittering herbs with predominantly Australian ingredients. The nose is herbal, floral and bursting with bright Riverland orange, while the palate is bitter, fresh and citrus driven. Combine with equal parts local gin and vermouth for a uniquely Australian negroni.

RRP $60, 700ml, adelaidehillsdistillery.com.au

Manly Spirits Co Marine Botanical Vodka

Sydney start-up Manly Spirits distills its range of Australian botanical vodkas using sustainably foraged native botanicals. The 'Marine' expression features native marine botanicals, which the distiller says contribute savoury, sea air notes on the nose, balanced with gentle umami flavours on the palate. The approach impressed judges on its debut at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards this year, where the vodka picked up a silver medal.

RRP $75, 700ml, manlyspirits.com.au

The Indie Spirits Tasting comes to Restaurant Hubert on Sunday, September 17, 1pm-4pm. Further information and tickets are available here.