Distilled in Winter: Kangaroo Island Spirits
Tucked away just outside Kingscote, Kangaroo Island Spirits slows its rhythm when winter rolls in. But behind the stills, the work deepens. It’s a season for tending the barrels, refining recipes, and warming visitors with spirits crafted by hand. This is winter, distilled.
“When the pace drops, creativity rises,” says Kylie from the KI Spirits team. “There’s space to experiment, taste, tweak. Whisky in barrel. Botanicals on the bench. It’s the kind of season that sets up the next chapter.”
The air shifts too. Inside the still room, the scent of warm copper, juniper, and sweet malt hangs in the air. In the tasting bar: spice, citrus, coffee and oak. Outside, the garden is wrapped in damp earth and salt air, with fire pits sending lazy smoke skyward. It’s a signature scent of the island in winter.
Visitors in the off season come looking for more than just a drink. “They stay longer. They ask questions. They want to understand not just what’s in the glass, but where it came from and why it tastes the way it does.” Tastings become conversations. A sip of honeyed liqueur turns into a story about bees, botanicals and ageing barrels. It’s the kind of intimacy that only winter allows.
On cooler days, the Honey & Macadamia Liqueur really comes into its own. Serve it neat, in coffee, or drizzled over dessert. Gin lovers lean into the bolder, more savoury serves. Whisky drinkers settle in with flights, old fashioneds or the comfort of a hot toddy by the fire. “They’re simple drinks, done well. No fuss, just flavour.”
Behind the scenes, the winter rituals continue. Daily barrel checks. Garden fire pits. Quiet moments with the team, testing new ideas and refining the old. “It’s hands-on, practical, and all about what our guests will be tasting in months or years to come.”
And when the day ends? A shared dram, a quiet cheer, and the sense of something being quietly built. Not just spirits, but community, creativity and connection.
Because at Kangaroo Island Spirits, winter is more than a season. It’s when the best ideas take shape.
It’s the In Season. Come see what’s quietly brewing.
