Manly Spirits Co.

History

Manly Spirits Co. was founded by David and Vanessa, who after an island trip and extensive research settled in Sydney to celebrate the Australian coastal lifestyle through premium spirits. The distillery was built in Brookvale on Manly’s northern coastline, and in April 2017 they opened with their first gin and botanical vodka. In 2021 they launched Coastal Stone Whisky, which became the starting point for a growing whisky portfolio. Their approach is anchored in a harmonious blend of marine and Australian botanicals, and they have two Holsten stills (Bella and Jordan), which handle the production of their white spirits. From the outset their philosophy has been to work with marine botanicals and Australian natural ingredients with a focus on sustainability and craftsmanship.

Production / Manufacturing

The distillery is located on the Northern Beaches in Sydney and is driven by craftsmanship and ingenuity rather than automated processes. Two Holsten stills (Bella and Jordan) are responsible for producing their white spirits and are carefully overseen by distillers to optimize flavor and balance without automated cutoffs. Manly Spirits works with a selection of marine botanicals, Australian natives, and traditional gin botanicals, rounded out by a high-quality Australian grain spirit.

Their whisky range is characterized by the breadth of cask variants and long maturation. Coastal Stone Whisky is described as an Australian Craft Whisky that is grains-to-glass and non-chill filtered, aged in ex-bourbon and ex-wine casks with up to 5 years of maturation in 100 L–500 L casks. Nor'easter Whisky is described as an expression that fuses different sizes (225–500 L) of ex-wine and ex-bourbon-finish casks, and the Element Series is described as primarily 100–200 L first-fill casks. The whiskies are produced without added color and without chill filtration, and the use of manual techniques and contact with the raw materials emphasizes craftsmanship.

Products / Whisky Series

• Coastal Stone Whisky – Single Malt Whisky, aged up to 5 years, matured in ex-bourbon and ex-wine casks, non-chill filtered, without colorants. Also available in expressions such as Nor'easter and Xplore in different cask combinations.

• Nor'easter Whisky – blend/union of multiple cask types (ex-wine & ex-bourbon) in sizes 225–500 L; part of the same Coastal Stone family and construction of Australian whisky without chill filtration.

• 8YR Single Malt Whisky MSD35 Beer Cask – a vintage single malt with 51.6% ABV, aged in special beer cask allocations.

• Xplore Whisky – further expressions in the Coastal Stone series (named Xplore) with varied cask collaborations.

• Pinot Cask, Bourbon Cask, Shiraz Cask, Aglianico Cask, Sangiovese Cask – finish expressions where single malt whisky is finished in various ex-wine/fortified wine or grape-based cask types to add additional notes.

• Ginger Beer Whisky – one of their whisky-related products, incorporating a spicy profile.

• Barrel Aged Whisky 200 ml and Coastal Stone Whisky Xplore 200 ml – smaller bottle sizes included in the portfolio.

• Personalized Custom Label Single Malt Whisky – option for personalized labeling on a single malt.

Visits / Experiences

Manly Spirits Co. offers distillery tours and experiences in Brookvale:

• Manly Spirits Gin Distillery Tour & Tasting – guided tour with tasting of five spirits and a discount on full-size bottles.

• Manly Spirits Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting – guided tour of whisky production and tasting of four different whiskies, plus discount on full-size bottles.

• Manly Spirits Cocktail Masterclass – hands-on course in shaking, stirring and serving three signature cocktails, including a cheese and antipasto platter.

• Gin Making Class – make your own gin in The Stillhouse and take home a 700 ml bottle.

• Distillery Experiences – gift cards for distilleries and private events, private tours and corporate events – with prices and schedules listed on their visit pages.

• Opening hours for the bar and bottle shop are provided, and there are detailed booking and cancellation details on their distillery and masterclass pages.

Philosophy

Their approach emphasizes a balance between relaxed beach life and urban refinement, reflected in their slogan and design philosophy. They focus on marine and Australian botanicals as well as domestic grains, and take a craft-focused approach to distillation and aging. The collaboration with forager and chef Elijah Holland highlights sustainability and locally sourced marine botanicals for their white spirits. Their future prospects include investing in the production of single malt and grain whiskies, as well as expanding their capacity to produce both white and dark spirits – and expressions for export and international markets.

Identity Summary

• An Australian coastal-lifestyle brand realized through high-quality gin, vodka and whisky, with a particular focus on marine botanicals and Australian ingredients.

• The distillery is built around two Holsten stills and a culture of craftsmanship, timing, and sensory awareness in production.

• A growing whisky line with a single malt focus and various cask finishes, including ex-bourbon and ex-wine; non-chill filtered and without colorants.

• Visit options in Brookvale with tours, tasting and masterclasses, as well as gift cards and personalized labels.