Gin is one of those stylish, sophisticated, damn delicious spirits that we often turn to in our hour of need – aka Happy Hour – and in early September this year, Victoria’s largest independent gin distillery, Patient Wolf Distilling Co, will open their doors in Southbank.

Fulfilling their purpose and motto, “Made by hand. Made with purpose”, Patient Wolf’s co-founders Matt Argus and Dave Irwin proudly ride the trend in Australia for regional-based distilleries. This duo spent three years travelling the world, learning and experiencing gins from some of the best in the gin biz.

In September, Patient Wolf Distilling Co invite guests to not only to taste their gin but to go behind the scenes and immerse themselves into its distilling methodology and the functionality of their red brick industrial warehouse at 34-36 Market Street. Here, guests will also have the chance to learn more about the distilling process and join in on an intimate gin masterclass which adds another layer of meaning and understanding to what they are drinking. 

Moving from trendy Brunswick to closer to the heart of the city, their urban distillery will be the home for Patient Wolf’s existing 220L Müller copper still, which was custom built in Germany – “It took a year to make and it uses a new technology, which increases copper contact with the spirit to produce a more pure, aromatic and refined distillate”.

Blending the old with the new means that this modern contemporary interpretation of Gin distilling will tickle your taste buds and when their new state-of-the-art 1000L still arrives from Germany to join production early next year, the Patient Wolf distillery is expected to be Australia’s largest urban gin distillery.

After years of research and experimentation Patient Wolf has successfully produced three boutique gins which individually encompass their goal for crafting spirits that revel in the pure magic of gin. This includes;

• Melbourne Dry Gin, Patient Wolf’s first gin was years in the making. It’s a big, bold and complex gin that is incredibly smooth and balanced.
• Summer Thyme Gin is inspired by summer and for enjoying all year round with lively lemon zest and delicate pine freshness.
• Blackthorn Gin is an annual seasonal release featuring blackthorn (sloe) berries handpicked in Tasmania.

Patient Wolf also offer a seasonal drinks menu that incorporates gin and tonics, classic cocktails such as a negroni or a gin martini and more experimental gin concoctions.

The Patient Wolf distillery and bar will open to the public from early September 2019. Thursdays and Fridays 4.00pm – 8.00pm and Saturdays and Sundays 10.00am – 5.00pm.