August 2025 | Distil on the Hill Mandarin Gin

July 31, 2025

August 2025 Featured Gin of the Month

Written by Lauren Smith

There are some distilleries that quietly carve out a space in your memory. A few years ago, we featured a small-batch release tucked up in Far North Queensland – a vibrant, unexpected gin that stood out in all the right ways. That distillery was Distil on the Hill, and recently, we checked back in. What we found? They’ve grown, they’ve evolved – and they’re still making some of the most distinctive gin in the country.

About the Distillery

High in the rainforest hinterland of Kuranda, where tropical mist clings to the canopy and the air smells faintly of citrus and wet leaves, you’ll find Christian and Neddy doing what they love most: making excellent gin. The kind that’s born from tradition, but not afraid to shake things up.

It all started, as the best things often do, at home – with a 20-litre copper still named Tiny Tim and a big idea. “It all began with a small 20L copper pot still gifted to us by Christian’s parents Glenn and Frances... tucked away in our mountain home, we created a distilling space,” Neddy says. “We spent countless hours learning the craft, experimenting with flavour profiles and tweaking botanicals until we created a gin we were truly proud of.”

Christian brings generations of distilling wisdom – quite literally – as part of the legendary Lark family. Neddy cut her teeth at Kangaroo Island Spirits under John and Sarah Lark, where she fell hard for the craft. Together, they turned their tucked-away dream into something real – one bottle, one market stall, one conversation at a time.

Today, their new distillery and cellar door in Smithfield hums with life. “Our new production space is a dream come true – much more efficient, and we’re absolutely loving it!” Tiny Tim now sits beside Clare, a 100-litre still named after their eldest daughter, with Millie soon joining the family. Their stills, named after their daughters’ middle names, aren’t just equipment – they’re part of the story.

“The region’s rich local ingredients – like fresh citrus and native botanicals – are key to our gin’s unique flavours.”

And you can taste that care – every last drop of it.

About the Gin

Now let’s talk about the gin that brought us back: the Mandarin Gin. If citrus-forward gin is your thing (and it is very much ours), this one is going to hit just right.

From the get-go, Christian and Neddy knew what they wanted for their flagship release. “We were very set with what we were going to create first – a citrus-forward, heavy juniper gin-lover’s gin.” It’s a London Dry style that flirts with mandarin and exotic spices for a balanced yet fascinating fusion.

It starts with bold local mandarins, layered over a backbone of juniper, then lifted with creamy vanilla, aromatic cardamom, lemon myrtle and a warm tickle of long pepper. It’s bright, but not brash. Lush, but still clean.

Mandarin Gin has quietly picked up a string of accolades – including a double gold in San Francisco, one of the most coveted in the industry. But it’s not the medals that make this one special to us. It’s how it drinks.

We’ve served it simply – Fever-Tree Mediterranean Light Tonic, a dehydrated mandarin slice, a few black peppercorns – and it’s everything we hoped it would be. Fragrant, crisp, and quietly complex. It’s the kind of serve that cuts through the winter gloom with a burst of citrus brightness – refreshing, radiant, and impossible to resist. Or go off-script and try strawberries and basil, or even fresh peach. “We really like mandarin with long pepper and fresh thyme,” Neddy tells us, “but people get really creative. That’s the fun of it.”

This is the gin to pour when you want to make a Thursday night feel like a celebration.

About the Tasting Room

If you’re lucky enough to find yourself near Cairns, make time for a visit to their newly-opened cellar door in Smithfield. Set inside an airy industrial warehouse strung with festoon lights, the space is anchored by a vintage caravan turned bar – a charming centrepiece that sets the tone for easy afternoons and balmy evenings.

There’s plenty of room to unwind, with tables, umbrellas, and a steady breeze that makes it all too easy to linger. The carefully considered drinks menu features seasonal cocktails, gin tasting flights, and a nibble or two to keep you going. Beyond the bar, there’s a tidy retail corner with their full gin range, merch, and a glimpse into the production space quietly working behind the scenes.

The space has quickly become a local favourite, taking on a life of its own. “Yes, we run special events at our cellar door, including birthdays and weddings,” Neddy adds. “It’s been received really well! We’re seeing new faces every day.”

Other Products in the Range

While the Mandarin Gin is the main attraction this month, the rest of the Distil on the Hill lineup deserves its own round of applause.

There’s the Jindilli Gin, our Garden Street alum. It’s bright, creamy, and subtly nutty, thanks to native raspberries, elderflower, orange blossom, pink pepper, lemon balm and macadamia. “It’s like walking through an orchard,” Neddy says, and honestly, she’s not wrong. Alongside the Mandarin Gin, Jindilli has also brought home its fair share of Silver and Bronze medals from distinguished Australian spirit awards.

Looking for something more indulgent? Their decadent Sloe Gin steeps Mandarin Gin in Tasmanian sloe berries, creating a fruit-forward beauty with a spiced edge.

Most recently, the Pipi Gin made its debut – and probably one of the most intriguing we’ve seen in a while. Savoury and salty, made with foraged pipi shells, dried tomato, apple, thyme, Szechuan pepper and kaffir lime. Weird in theory, wildly good in practice. Perfect for dirty martini lovers, this is the kind of gin you will sip and immediately start dreaming up new pairings for.

We don’t have any juicy new updates on what’s coming next as of yet. “We are just focusing on our cellar door at the moment... but we do hope to start experimenting with new flavours again very soon,” shares Neddy.

There’s something truly special happening up in the hills – it’s a way of life we’re lucky to taste. Here at Garden Street, we’re thrilled to catch up with the team at Distil on the Hill once again, this time with their Mandarin Gin front and centre. Here’s to winter sunsets, citrus sunshine – and the kind of small distilleries that remind us why we fell in love with gin in the first place. Cheers!

FEATURED IN THE GIN CLUB

Distil on the Hill Mandarin Gin is featured in August 2025's Gin Subscription box!

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