Grab a drink at the Lower North Shore’s first gin distillery and tasting room, Finders Distillery.

It’s hard to believe, but Finders Distillery is the Lower North Shore’s first gin distillery. Up until now, punters have had to travel into the inner city to sip gins and spirits direct from distilleries and tasting rooms such as Brix Distillers in Surry Hills, Rosebery’s Archie Rose, Poor Tom’s in Marrickville and the newly opened Four Pillars Gin Lab in Surry Hills. But now, a pair of local gin lovers have changed that and launched an epic new distillery and tasting room in St Leonards.

Finding it’s home in a converted industrial unit in St Leonards, Finders Distillery is headed up by Aussie duo Kyle and Georgia. After successful careers in engineering and fashion, the pair decided to make a dramatic change in 2016 by resigning from their jobs, selling almost everything they owned and set off for a 2 year round the world trip. During their adventures abroad, the pair found themselves drawn to distilleries and local produce, which is where the idea for Finders Distillery was born.

It was during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic that Finders Distillery launched, but not in the way the co-founders intended. Unable to swing open their doors due to the lockdown, Finders Distillery began online with the launch of an Australian dry gin ($79), Australian vodka and yep you guessed it, a hand sanitiser.

But as restrictions have eased, Finder Distilleries’ tasting room is now open on Fridays and Saturdays from 2-9pm. Here you can sample the distillery’s top-notch spirits (all infused with botanicals and ingredients local to the Lower North Shore), including classic cocktails, G&Ts and so much more. Plus, you can book a distillery tour (1-2pm every Saturday, $30 pp) to learn all about the distilleries’ methods and sip their products too.

Finders Distillery’s tasting room is now open on Fri and Sat from 2-9pm, bookings are essential (call 0412 346 097 to reserve your spot). To buy spirits online or book a distillery tour, click here.