Junipalooza Melbourne 2018

Overview

Melbourne's other gin festival is back. Back in 2016, Melbourne was faced with the happy problem of having not one, but two gin festivals on the cards. You might know the hugely successful Juniperlooza, a locally organised festival. Well, this different festival — confusingly called Junipalooza (yes, that's an 'a' instead of an 'er') — came to Melbourne by way of the UK, and was unsurprisingly dedicated entirely to gin. And it's back again for another year.

The Melbourne version of the festival (the first to be held outside of the UK) is a twin event to Junipalooza London, which started back in 2013. The event will be held over two days this October at North Melbourne's Meat Market. It'll be hosted by founders of the UK's Gin Foundry, Olivier and Emile Ward — so you know you're in good gin-pouring hands. The renowned brothers live, breathe and drink gin, compiling all their knowledge onto their comprehensive online gin directory. It makes sense then that the pair have teamed up with local gin expert, The Gin Queen (aka Caroline Childerley) to celebrate the noble spirit in Melbourne.

Junipalooza will feature sampling stations, cocktails and gin masterclasses with some of the world's best distillers. More than 40 distillers from around the globe will be in attendance, giving punters the chance to take a bottle or two of their favourite gin home.

There'll be snacks, too, from the likes of American-style barbecue duo Burn City Smokers, dessert experts The Brûlée Cart and cheese fiends Maker & Monger, and this year, for the very first time, there'll be a four-course gin dinner — with matched gin cocktails, of course — being held on Friday, October 26. You can snag a ticket here for $95 a pop.

The festival will take place over the weekend of October 27-28, and tickets are on sale now. We see a lot of gin drinking in your future.

Image: Steven Woodburn.