Settlers Spirits

About the distillery

Settlers Spirits is located in McLaren Vale in South Australia and is an Australian craft distillery with a clear focus on gin. From here come both classic expressions and more playful variations with yuzu, Shiraz, blood orange, and Earl Grey. The range also includes a single malt whisky matured in restored Port casks, which adds an extra dimension for whisky lovers.

History

Rowland Short came to the distillery with a background as a master mariner. He had sailed the world as a ship’s captain and on his own yacht, and in meeting botanicals and distant ports, the idea for a spirit production with a distinct personality took shape. When he settled in McLaren Vale in South Australia, he set up a column still-built distillery and began bringing together botanicals, exploration, and classic distillation traditions. This became the starting point for Settlers Spirits, which has since developed with both award-winning gin and a whisky in its range. The distillery describes itself as small-batch, artisan, and sustainable, and it is clear that working with flavor and local ingredients has become a core part of the story.

Ingredients and production

The production is based on both classic gin botanicals and Australian ingredients. Among other things, the distillery uses local botanicals such as muntrie berries, native pepper berry, and lemon myrtle, and in several of the gins, citrus plays a major role. A key approach is that each botanical is hung and steamed individually, so the character of each ingredient is preserved and highlighted. It is a deliberate modern twist on the technique, designed to create a lighter, sharper, and more defined palate. In Juniper 3 Ways Gin, botanicals are distilled three times on Pot Still, Vapour Still, and Reflux Still, before the spirit is brought together again. Shiraz Gin goes another route and is built on grapes from the distillery’s own property, which are vinified in the distillery’s own winery and then distilled on site. The whisky is made on Australian malt barley and distilled as a single malt at the distillery in McLaren Vale.

Maturation and cask types

The whisky is matured in restored Port casks in the distillery’s monitored storage rooms in McLaren Vale. The casks used are 100 liters, and the whisky is only referred to as whisky after it has spent more than two years in cask. The Port casks give the product a clear connection between maturation and the finished character, and the bottle is non chill filtered. It is a small but clearly defined maturation trail, where both the cask’s previous contents and the controlled maturation work are part of the expression.

Whiskies

The core of the range is gin, and it shows in the breadth between classic and more aromatic expressions. Rare Dry Gin takes a classic London dry direction with orange, lemon myrtle, and pepper berry, while Yuzu Gin is built around the Japanese citrus with fresh, racy acidity. Pink Gin leans more fruity and floral, Breakfast Gin combines Earl Grey, honey, and lemon, and Blood Orange & Chilli goes in a more intense citrus-and-spice direction. Old Tom Gin is sweeter and more spiced with licorice root, star anise, and warm spices, and Shiraz Gin shows a more vinous side with deep color and structure. In the middle of this gin universe stands Port Barrel Whisky as the only whisky, making it a distinct, mature side of the house.

The style and flavor profile of the whiskies

Settlers Spirits has an overall style where clear citrus, fresh botanicals, and a dry, spiced finish often show up. On one end, yuzu, blood orange, and lemon myrtle deliver light, crisp fruitiness; on the other, native pepper berry, black pepper, chili, and classic spices provide a warmer, drier finish. At the same time, floral and aromatic notes like rose petals, Earl Grey tea, and juniper appear in several products, so the house profile spans from perfumed and fruity to sharply spiced and very clean in its expression.

Visiting the distillery

There is a distillery door, and guests can come for gin tastings. Products are also sold directly online, and the contact information encourages you to call in advance if you want to get in touch with the place. The visit experience is therefore clearly open to the public, with tastings as the central activity and store-like access to the products.

Philosophy and craft

Settlers Spirits works with respect for origin, aroma, and flavor. Botanicals are treated individually, so their distinct character is preserved, and the distillery intentionally uses the technique to create a lighter, sharper, and more defined expression. The philosophy is also tied to botanicals, exploration, and established traditions, but translated into modern Australian distilling work.

Sustainability

Small batch, artisan and sustainable.

Awards and recognition

• Gold Medal (2024, Gold Medal, Settlers Juniper 3 Ways Gin)

• Bronze Medal (2023, Bronze Medal, Settlers Juniper 3 Ways Gin)

• Gold Medal (2022, Gold Medal, Settlers Juniper 3 Ways Gin)

• Trophy, Best In Class - Matured Gin (2020, Trophy, Settlers Old Tom Gin)

• Gold (2020, Gold, Settlers Old Tom Gin)

• Double Gold Medal (2024, Double Gold Medal, Settlers Yuzu Gin)

• Gold Medal (2023, Gold Medal, Settlers Yuzu Gin)

• Gold Medal (2022, Gold Medal, Settlers Yuzu Gin)

• Gold Medal (2022, Gold Medal, Settlers Yuzu Gin)

• Bronze Medal (2024, Bronze Medal, Settlers Rare Dry Gin)

• Bronze Medal (2023, Bronze Medal, Settlers Rare Dry Gin)

• Gold Medal (2022, Gold Medal, Settlers Rare Dry Gin)