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Peak industry body for Australian craft distillers

The Australian Distillers Association is the peak industry body for Australian craft distillers and was founded in 2004. There are now over 600 distilleries across Australia from Darwin to Davenport and from Margaret River to Manly – a marked increase since 2014, when Australia had just 28 distilleries. Our industry directly supports over 5,000 jobs and supports a further 15,000 jobs throughout the supply chain, from primary producers to the hospitality and tourism sectors. Significantly, more than 60% of these businesses are in rural and regional areas, bringing important economic benefits to these communities. Distillers buy produce from local farmers, attract tourists to their regions, and create jobs, both within their own operations and in the services and supply chains.

Our local distillers have been growing in international renown. Australian distillers are known for their innovative methods and their intriguing use of native ingredients, such as lemon myrtle, Tasmanian pepperberry and even bunya nuts. The quality of their work is reflected in a growing list of international awards. In November 2020, for example, Yarra Valley-based Four Pillars was named International Gin Producer of the Year for the second year running at the 51st International Wine and Spirits Competition. In prestigious US awards held in early 2020, Western Australia's Great Southern Distilling Co. won the American Distillers Institute Award for the best International Craft Whiskey. Sydney’s Archie Rose also won the World Whiskey Awards ‘World’s Best Rye Whiskey'. In 2022 Victoria's Four Pillars Gin won Distiller of the year and Brand Innovator of the year at the World Gin Awards in London. South Australia's Never Never Triple Juniper Export Strength won the World's Best London Dry gin and Queensland's Devil Thumb Distillery won the Worlds Best Navy Strength gin.

Our Association aims to:

Nurture the union of Australian distillers by promoting industry activities which further strengthen the distillers community
Create opportunities to share information through industry forums and workshops
Promote the knowledge and science of distillation
Support the introduction of an Australian Spirits competition
Lobby and work with established government and non-government organisations who share similar goals and philosophies
Encourage and invite allied industry and consumer enthusiasts to become involved with Australian Distillers Association activities and events
Provide education on Australian distillers and their products
Promote the responsible consumption of alcohol

The Australian Distillers Association Code of Conduct and Regulations can be found here