Pokolbin Distillery

Pokolbin Distillery is a locally owned distillery in Pokolbin, Newcastle, producing gin, vodka and liqueurs in small batches. The business opened in the Hunter Valley winery region in 2019, with its spirits made in-house from a base spirit produced by its distiller in copper pot stills. Botanicals and other ingredients draw on both Australian native plants and the family’s Polish heritage, giving the range a clear connection to place and family history.

The main experience is a guided tasting at the distillery door. Staff tailor the session to each group’s preferences, taking guests through the range in bespoke tasting glasses, from drier gins to sweeter liqueurs. The full tasting includes products across the distillery’s gin, vodka and liqueur collections, and is priced at $15 per person. Tastings are available from Thursday to Monday, with different daytime hours across those days, and bookings can be made through the venue.

There is plenty to explore in the range. Blue Island Gin is a tropical, butterfly-pea-flower-infused gin known for changing colour with different mixers. The gin selection also includes Classic Dry Gin, Native Plum Finger Lime and Bush Gin. For vodka drinkers, Mocha Vodka combines coffee and chocolate flavours and is suggested as a base for an Espresso Martini, while the plain Vodka is described as a smooth option for cocktails or sipping over ice. The liqueur range includes family-recipe Cherry Liqueur, Honeycomb Liqueur and the deliberately mysterious Friar’s Secret Liqueur.

The distillery has been designed around the tasting experience, with locally reclaimed timber, copper-topped benches and industrial pendant lighting inside. Outside, Australian native plantings and a mural of local flora and fauna reflect the surrounding Hunter Valley. The staff are described as local friends, family and distilling enthusiasts, and may share more about the production process and the family’s history when available.

Pokolbin Distillery suits visitors who want to add a spirits tasting to a Hunter Valley day, whether travelling solo or with a group. It is particularly well suited to people interested in craft spirits, unusual liqueur flavours and the story behind a small family business. The venue also provides cocktail recipes for guests wanting to use the products at home.