South Australia · Attraction
Kangaroo Island Spirits
Australia's original island gin
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Kangaroo Island Spirits at Cygnet River holds the title of Australia's first dedicated gin distillery, established in 2006 and still producing award-winning small-batch spirits that capture the island's native botanicals. The cellar door is open daily for tastings, with experiences ranging from informal drop-ins to guided gin-blending masterclasses.
The distillery was founded with a clear philosophy: make spirits that speak of Kangaroo Island rather than simply being made on it. Every gin, whisky, vodka, and liqueur in the range draws on locally sourced botanicals, coastal saltbush, lemon-scented teatree, and native river mint among them, and is produced in small batches that prioritise flavour over volume.
The cellar door on Playford Highway sits in a tranquil rural setting surrounded by native bushland, a world away from the busy tourist corridors of Seal Bay. Drop-in visitors can sample the full range across the tasting bench, while the Premium Guided Tasting experience provides a structured journey through the flagship expressions with food pairings and distillery history. Cocktail masterclasses and the gin-blending session, where guests create and label their own bespoke bottle, are bookable experiences that typically run for around two hours.
The cellar door is open Monday to Sunday from 10:30am to 5:30pm, closing on Christmas Day and Good Friday. The distillery is a roughly 20-minute drive east of Kingscote along the Playford Highway, making it a natural first or last stop on a cross-island journey.
Scenic views
