Inner West Distillery Trail: Nine World-Class Makers Unite

A new chapter in Sydney's drinks scene has arrived with the official launch of the Inner West Distillery Trail, uniting nine independent makers of whiskey, rum, gin and vodka across Marrickville and Balmain-Lilyfield districts.

The initiative, launched by Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne at Red Mill Rum, builds on the success of the Inner West Ale Trail. "By creating the distillery trail, we'll make the Inner West a mecca for spirit connoisseurs looking to explore the range of flavours on offer, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the distillers' art," Cr Byrne said. "You won't find a more welcoming and vibrant group of world-class distillers anywhere else in Australia."

The trail includes Blackwattle Distilling Co, Ester Spirits, Eureka Distilling, Lily Fields Distilling Co, Moonshiner Distilling Collaboration, Otter Craft Distilling, Poor Toms, Red Mill Rum and Unexpected Guest Distillery. Each offers something different — from heritage-listed warehouses to intimate cellar doors and cocktail bars.

Blackwattle co-founder Kieren Doyle, who distils at the White Bay Steelworks, said: "We all offer something a little bit different, from the drinks we create through to the spaces we're housed in… the distillery trail is a great way for people to experience the melting point of culture that is the Inner West."

Ester Spirits, founded by Felix Clark and Corinna Kovner, has already won international awards, including World's Best Navy Gin at the World Gin Awards. Clark noted: "We've been the Dannii Minogue to the breweries' Kylie… this is about increasing awareness to showcase that we're also here, and doing great things."

At Otter Craft Distilling, sustainability is front and centre. Co-founder Eduard Otter explained: "From grain to glass, every element at OCD is crafted in-house — from distilling on our hand-designed stills, to bottling and labelling our internationally award-winning OCD single malt whiskey, vodkas and gins."

Collectively, the nine distilleries have won some of the most prestigious awards in the industry. Clark believes their combined strength will amplify the Inner West's reputation: "There's an amazing strength in numbers to be able to amplify our voices and brands on the Australian and world stage."

The Inner West Distillery Trail is free to follow, with visitors able to choose their start and finish points via an interactive online map. The trail is now open for exploration following the official launch event on Wednesday 27 August 2025.