Brisbane's Premier Gin Bars: Sip, Swirl & Savor
It’s fun, it’s fresh and it’s experimental – as far as spirits go, gin is having its moment in the sun right now. Jump aboard the gin train with us as we explore where to sip, swirl and savour the botanical clear spirit.
Proud Henry Wine Bar & Ginoteca, Fortitude Valley
Henry is a stuffed peacock who sits high above the bar. He’s guarding more than 100 bottles of gin from all around the world, stacked up high in Brisbane’s first ‘ginoteca’. The menu here pairs each gin with a Fever Tree tonic water and garnish.
Dutch Courage Officer’s Mess, Fortitude Valley
Straight to the source, DCOM has put the focus on gin since way back when they opened in 2014 – which was before gin was super trendy. Ask the staff to help pick out something special, or browse the picture book cocktail menu – complete with illustrations. The Hendrick’s Bathtub looks fun.
Humpybong, Stafford
Just north of the city, Brisbane’s first and only artisan gin distiller lives in an unlikely location. By morning Humpybong is a roaring café in industrial Stafford, but from Thursday to Sunday the roller door stays up and the backstreet nook become a neighbourhood bar where you can taste the Humpybong Distillery’s own gin.
John Mills Himself, Brisbane City
Choose your poison based on its "drink miles". Cute laneway bar JMH stocks only craft Australian spirits and local mixers. With ingredients such as pink grapefruit and rosemary syrup and lilli pilli gin on hand, this is the paddock-to-plate equivalent of drinking.
BOSC, West End
The name stands for Bar Of Social Conscience, but as they quickly realised – it can mean a bunch of things. Bar Of Specialty gin Cocktails, for example. Grab a board game and order a gin – all the usual and the unusual Australian suspects are here.
Canvas, Woolloongabba
Take to the skies with your own gin flight. This Woolloongabba speakeasy is best known for its cocktails, but it also offers flights of four spirits for $25. Consider it an education as you line up Melbourne Gin Company, Bols Genever, Hayman’s Old Tom and Monkey gin.
Maker, South Brisbane
Slide into Brisbane’s smallest cocktail bar. With dark interiors except for a strikingly lit 7.5m long brass bar, this specialty spot has only about a dozen seats. The cocktail list changes monthly, or request
The Colonial Bar, Brisbane City
What’s that? The sound of the drinks trolley rolling towards you? Yes, head upstairs to The Colonial Bar within the Port Office Hotel for The Thursday Club (surprise, its only on Thursdays) to soak in the vibes from yesteryear. An electro swing band will keep the vibe alive while you sip gin cocktails from your wicker chair.
Bar Pacino, Brisbane City
The riverside bar’s incredible views clearly call for Nutella shots. But, if it’s gin you’re after, gin they have. Try the highly recommended Figa, a gin and elderflower cocktail with fresh lemon and mint leaves.
Savile Row, Fortitude Valley
Enter through an orange door, slide through a silk black curtain and look up to a gleaming wall of booze. This Fortitude Valley speakeasy doesn’t do spirits by halves, with more than 750 bottles resting on its back bar.
Emporium Cocktail Bar, Fortitude Valley
Yes, the foyer and bar at Emporium might to be to everyone’s tastes – but the cocktails from the bar will be. The Bee’s Knee’s cocktail mixes gin with honey from the hotel’s rooftop, crème de violette and smoked lavender for something different.
Stoke Bar, South Bank
As close to the river as you get without swimming in it, Stoke Bar changes its menu seasonally. The Lavender Lime Breeze is a delicate mix of gin, lillet blanc and lime with a creamy, sweet lavender and violet foam to caps off this delicious drink.
