You don’t need to frequent bars to experience South Australian gin, vodka, whisky, brandy and rum. Drink it where it is made. Some of the best distillery doors are within a stone’s throw of the city or hidden away in suburban backstreets. Give these urban beauties a whirl. Best of all, you can reach them via an Uber or taxi ride. Happy swilling.

Imperial Measures Distilling

This is neighbourhood drinking at its best. Locals pop in to the warehouse-turned distillery and (occasional) bar for a tipple and a smash burger. Find it on a Thebarton side street in Adelaide’s west.

Imperial Measures is part of the OG suburban distillery scene and co-founder David Danby is a familiar face in hospitality; he once worked at cocktail haunt Apothecary 1878 (now called Apoteca) and his brand Imperial Measures helped put quality South Australian spirits on the map. Expect botanical-based beverages; amaro, liqueurs, and three core gins include the Ounce Gin Bright, Ounce Gin Signature and Ounce Gin Bold. The Shiraz Gin is a winner, too.

Mad Monkey Distillery

If rum is your beverage of choice, this is the ticket. What was once an office-space in the industrial suburb of Dudley Park is now a tiki-inspired hideaway with a tropical island vibe and a nod to Polynesian culture.

Co-owners Alec McDowall and Scott McCarthy run the artisanal rum-devoted distillery and make the beverages using a still called Albert. Alongside the rum cocktails, there’s beer, wine and snacks, burgers, and gourmet toasties. The bamboo and thatch décor and exotic cocktails are whole lot of fun.

Prohibition Liquor Co.

For small-batch craft spirits served in the heart of the CBD, Prohibition Liquor Co distillery and tasting room is the place to be. A claw foot copper bath takes pride of place high above the bar, a reminder of bathtub cuts and how many-a gin began (the brand name was inspired by the 1920s prohibition period) and the award-winning labels reflect that era.

Director Adam Carpenter is a graphic designer by trade and his design studio is located inside the space. The result is a creative atmosphere for gin flights, cocktails, and grazing platters. Fancy a coffee? Bootleg Coffee Co. café and Next Door (a modern cocktail bar) are located next door.

Threefold Distilling

Roller doors, high ceilings and a seaside suburb setting. Look no further. The trio of hospitality pals behind Threefold Distilling wanted a welcoming community vibe for their new distillery, tasting room and cocktail bar, and that’s what you get here. It’s more than just gin and tonics and cocktails. Experiences such as cocktail masterclasses and ‘drink with the distiller’ tastings are a big part of the offering. The snacks beg you to stay a bit longer too. Expect cheese platters, grazing plates and flammekeuche (German-style thin based pizza).

Reform Distilling

Some things are worth searching for. This neighbourhood distillery can be found in Adelaide’s outskirts – if you look hard enough. Kent Town is home to Reform Distilling’s distillery and event space located in a former Little Rundle Street warehouse. The exterior is covered with a painting of a woman draped across a black and white mandala (the work of Adelaide artists Sair Bean and Joshua Smith) and encapsulates the neighbourhood’s edgy, creative urban spirit. The bespoke gins (and limoncello) are inspired by the neighbourhood and the space feels quite ‘Melbourne-like’. Owner and distiller Jed Coffey is a lovely guy, which makes this a nice place to hang out.

Milledge’s Distillery

There’s art and culture at the heart of this distillery and hangout in Port Adelaide. Milledge’s is more than just a distillery. The warehouse is also home to a café, a bar (which is regularly full of live music and art events), and a co-working space home to a film company, a software company, and artists. The café focuses on sustainability and great coffee (beans by Charlie Black), local organic tea, and fresh flowers delivered weekly. It’s a genuine community space; everyone is welcome. Children, dogs, you name it. They even host a monthly community market. It’s heartwarming stuff.

Blend Etiquette Craft Distillery

This funky tasting space is a diamond in the rough. It can be found at the gateway to McLaren Vale, in the industrial fringes of Sturt as you travel toward the Southern Expressway. A large mural by local artist Jasmine Crisp is splashed across the exterior, while indoors the warehouse-style cellar door and gin garden fits 130 people. A 2700 litre beast still is the star of the show, while gin tastings and cocktails are served over a solid flat top island bench. Lindon Lark and his distiller wife Geordan are behind the brand. Lindon comes from strong distilling stock. His uncle and aunt Bill and Lyn Lark founded Tasmania’s Lark Distillery, while Lindon’s father Jon (Bill’s brother) and stepmother Sarah are the founders of gin-focussed Kangaroo Island Spirits. Make sure you try the Charlie Chaplin cocktail (Little Bitter Plum aperitif, apricot brandy and lime) and stay for a grazing plate.