History

Master Mariner Rowland Short navigated the Earth’s oceans as both ship’s captain and aboard his self-made yacht, making landfall in faraway ports in search of exotic and native botanicals that would marry seamlessly with his other great passion: gin. Botanicals, he says, are nature's language of joy and grandeur; awaken the human senses of smell, taste, sight, and sound. The perfect antidote to an endless horizon of blue oceans. Finally he settled in McLaren Vale, South Australia, where Rowland set up a beautiful column distillation process and began a new journey. Today, Settler’s Spirits combines botany and exploration with long-established traditions to produce a range of expertly crafted and distinctly blended gins. Lovers of classic styles will be enchanted by 'Rare Dry Gin' and the award-winning 'Old Tom'. The adventurous will be drawn to the exotic citrus note of Japanese Yuzu, or G & Tea Breakfast Gin; infused with Earl Grey tea, bush honey and a hint of Mediterranean citrus.

Production / Manufacturing

Botanicals, he says, are nature’s language of joy and grandeur; they awaken the human senses of smell, taste, sight and sound. The perfect antidote to an endless horizon of blue oceans. Botanicals hang and steam individually to preserve and highlight each character. This is not a practice that belongs to gin history, but a modern twist on technique that yields a noticeably brighter, sharper and more defined palate. Rowland also set up a beautiful column distillation that enables Settlers to craft gin with a modern edge.

Products / Whisky Series

Settlers Port Barrel Whisky – single malt, made from Australia’s finest malted barley and aged in 100 L restored Portfade casks. Fantastic notes of honey cake and Violet Crumble. Non-chill-filtered. Moonshine: Settlers Moonshine is distilled from locally grown barley and aged in Portfade; when it has spent more than two years in the barrels, it can be called Whisky.

Visit / Experiences

The distillery is located in McLaren Vale, South Australia, with online purchasing available and a distillery door listed on the website. No explicit details about tours or tastings in the material.

Philosophy

Respect and understanding of origin, aroma and flavor cause each botanical material to hang and steam individually in order to preserve and highlight each character. This is not a practice that belongs to gin history, but a modern twist on the technique that creates a clearer, sharper and more defined palate. The Settlers difference lies in preserving unique botanicals to deliver a fresher gin experience.