The Bundaberg region has always been the home of rum even lovingly referred to as ‘rumcity’ but more than rum is created here. Handcrafted, small batch and here for the sampling are such wonders as local gin, liqueurs, cider, wine, soft drinks. You can test out these top tipples, either at cellar doors, at cafes and restaurants, on a tour or in the comfort of your digs as take away. Shoot to the end for some snazzy cocktail recipes.
Ohana Winery & Cheeky Tiki Cider, 5 Alexandra St Bundaberg East
A craft cider house that makes a cider based on what “the people want” - amazing! Zoe and Josh have an amazing line up of seasonal, locally driven ciders (including the peoples cider), wines and liqueurs at their cellar door in Bundy East. But, how do you make cider when apples aren’t grown here? Easy, go to the next best place to get them in Queensland - Stanthorpe and blend them with lots of yummy local ingredients like ginger and passionfruit and chilli. You can do a cider tour (along with tasting), or just relax with a tasting paddle and cheese board at the cider door. Flavours such as boozy lemonade, pineapple, chilli and lime and wines like the Mango or Strawberry Moscato. Keep an eye out for their lime or limoncello - truly amazing neat on ice.
The details: Tuesday to Friday 12 noon to 4pm, Saturday 10:30 - 4pm, Sunday 10:30 - 2:30pm. Cellar door tasting/purchasing available, booked tours are $15 for 1 hour and operate at 1pm on Friday and Sunday. Book your cheeky experience here.
384 North Brewing, 6/15 See St Bargara
Small batch, hand crafted beer brewing from as small as 20 litres to 120 litres with a primary focus on pale ale and IPA. Tasting paddles available and brews current on tap include Galaxy Eclipse Pale Ale, Belgian Hazy IPA, Sunny Dayz Hazy IPA, Ripe NEIPA, Outback Red IPA, See Street XPA, Roadhouse APA and Northside Session IPA. 384 North is the beer baby of Anthony and Natasha Sftennia who are the owners of Casablanca on See, so you can get freshly house-made pasta, pizza or tapas with your cold brew.
The details: Casablanca Cafe & takeaway are open Saturday and Sunday 8am to 12 noon, with the Bar & Restaurant open 5pm to 8pm.
Kalki Moon, 22 Commercial Street, Bundaberg
A truly beautiful cellar door experience, the vast array of barrels, distilling vats and low lighting centred around the Kalki Moon bar is an experience in itself. Aside from the nice decor, head distiller Rick Prosser knows how to brew a good blend. With an outstanding range of gins such as Classic Gin, Premium Gin, Navy Strength Gin, Pink Gin Liqueur, the Kalki Moon family is introducing it’s rum series with the Cane Plant white rum and Chocolate and Macadamia Rum Liqueur recently released. Book in for a tour or just pop by to pick up supplies. Kalki Moon is also distributed widely throughout bottle shops in Queensland and Australia.
The details: Open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm, & Sunday 10am to 3pm. Tours occur daily at 11am and 1pm generally by head distiller Rick.
Lantana Gin
This is one to keep an eye on and is a bit hard to track down. Wild fermented, hand made gin made from sugarcane with what is a notorious weed (lantana) and fingerlimes from behind the post office for botanicals. Based in Redridge, just near Childers the bottle is too beautiful to part with and as described by its makers it is an unconventional gin that makes for a lovely representation of the soil and place it is made in. Available to purchase online only and can follow it’s makers on instagram @lantanagin
The details: Follow @lantanagin on Instagram and shop online to taste this exquisite local gem here.
Ballistic Bargara (formerly The Bargara Brewhouse), 10 Tantitha Street, Bundaberg Central
Formerly Bargara Brewing Company, Ballistic beers (Brisbane based) have recently moved in and are working with local Jack Millbank to keep brewing local beer Thirsty Turtle and Rusty Roo Red Ale alongside a suite of the Ballistic Beer brews. You can get tasting paddles and enjoy bar snacks at The Brewhouse while sitting back and sipping a brew - try the Thirsty Turtle, Ray XPA or Rusty Roo Red Ale.
The details: The Brewhouse, open Wednesday and Thursday 11:30am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 11:30am to 10pm.
Hill of Promise Winery, 8 Mango Hill Drive Childers
Wines that are produced on site, preservative free by local Childers couple Terry and Mary Byrne using traditional methods offering a true grape to glass experience. Their range includes the Three Marys Sparkling Muscat, Two Fat Frogs Semillion 2017, 3 Men & the Moon Cab Sav/Shiraz 2017 and Nana Gelso red. They also have a range of fortifieds inspired by local produce such as Ginger Crush, Limoncello and award winning Celtic Rose white muscat. A gorgeous setting, warm hospitality and some lovely tipples to tempt you.
The details: Open 7 days a week from 10am to 4pm, Free tastings at the cellar door.
Vintners Secret Vineyard, 135 N Isis Rd, North Isis
Come meet passionate winemakers Marianne and Ed who are responsible for crafting taste bud tantalizing wines before spending the day sipping, swirling and picnicking among the vineyards, with wines you’ll be writing home about. From their delicate "A Quiet Nod” Cabernet Merlot that pairs perfectly with a hearty slow cooked meal, to their sweet silky smooth "A Gentle Nudge" Verdelho that leaves lingering citrus notes. They also offer a delicious range of Sparkling and Fortified wines.
The details: Vintners Cellar Door is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-4pm. Purchase a delicious ‘Pickers Platter’ for 2 for $30 after purchasing your favourite bottle of wine. The onsite Whispers Cafe is also open during these times offering a range of cuisines.
Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, 147 Bargara Road, Bundaberg
You can travel the world and find a Bundaberg Brewed Drinks in the drinks fridge - it’s amazing where this family owned, locally grown company has expanded to. The Bundaberg Barrel is open for tours, which include tasting notes and more information on where Bundaberg Brewed Drinks has been and where it’s going. You can either do a self guided gallery tour (complete with smell-o-vision) or book a guided one where you can taste and hear from the staff about the delicious flavours and take home your own mixed six pack of favourites. All of the ginger beer uses locally grown sugar and ginger and is craft brewed over three days for maximum flavour and we think you can taste the Bundy Brewed difference.
The details: Bundaberg Brewed Drinks Barrel, Monday to Saturday 9am to 4:30pm, Sunday 10am to 3pm.
Bundaberg Rum Distillery, Hills St, Bundaberg East
Welcome to the home of Bundy, the recently renovated and reopened Bundaberg Rum Distillery runs regular tours, has a huge shop and lots to explore while here. If you take a tour it comes complete by visiting the molasses well where 5 million litres of molasses is stored from the neighbours at Millaquin sugar mill. The tour takes in all of the sights and smells of what makes Bundy Rum so unique and ends with a trip to the tasting bar where you can sample any of the top shelf rums and liqueurs. A bit of a must-do for visitors, whether you are a fan of rum or not.
The details : Retail store Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm. Tours run every hour from 10 to 3 and 10 to 2 on weekends, book here.
After sampling and discovering you new favourite flavours, why not try these delicious recipes with your bounty of newly purchased beverages?