For any gin enthusiasts, we’ve become spoilt for choice in the Macedon Ranges. With several award-winning distilleries within a 20-minute drive of Lawson Lodge, a gin-tasting trail is a must. Whether visiting as a holiday group or looking for a corporate team-building activity, a gin-tasting experience is a great addition to your trip.
Macedon
When starting from Macedon, your first stop should be Mountain Distilling. Their new bar and tasting room is now open in New Gisborne on weekends. You can also sample this award-winning Mountain Gin through their cellar door at Mt Towrong Winery. Nestled in a bush setting, the cellar door is a stunning mix of country and industrial style. These modern Australian craft gins are infused with locally foraged botanicals and are a true taste of the Macedon Ranges. We recommend staying on for lunch to enjoy Mt Towrong’s rustic Italian menu, influenced by the Italian heritage of owners George and Deirdre.
Newham
After lunch, we recommend taking the 30-minute drive to Big Tree Distillery in Newham. Created using the finest local ingredients, foraged locally or grown on-site, these award-winning and small-batch gins are well worth the drive. The stunning tasting room with views across sweeping paddocks is the perfect spot to enjoy Catherine and Gary’s extensive list of handcrafted gins. My personal favourite is the double-distilled Cumquat gin, paired with a slice of orange. Big Tree also offers a delicious grazing platter to accompany the gin tasting, so save room for this.
Kyneton
For some evening fun, you should head to Kyneton to Animus Distillery on Piper Street. This classic cocktail lounge and distillery is the perfect spot to finish your gin tour. Relax into a comfy leather couch and enjoy one of their hand-crafted gin cocktails. We recommend trying their gin sampler, complete with garnishes, tonic and tasting notes.
On-Site Tasting
For Lawson Lodge guests who don’t have time to leave the property, Big Tree offer onsite gin tasting experiences, where they bring their gins to you. This private tasting experience is available for $500 and includes tastings for all guests. Alternatively, you can order a gin cart to be delivered to our sports bar and try a selection of local gins at your leisure.