Now Open: New Gin Distillery and Bar Dutch Rules Distilling Co Is Heroing the Origins of the Spirit's Spices

The Netherlands is championed for creating the first gin. And the UK is known for popularising the spirit — especially London dry gin. But the influence of Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other spice islands hasn't made it to the mainstream.

This is something the Owner and Founder of Dutch Rules Distilling Co. Danny Perera is working hard to change at his distillery door and bar that opened in March this year. At the Mitcham site, he's distilling gins and making cocktails that hero the complex flavours of juniper, cardamom and coriander — coming from a broad range of spice islands.

Apart from strongly featuring these main spices (that were historically transported back to Europe by the East India Company), his gin range is also enhanced with lemongrass, makrut leaves, chilli, Thai basil and ginger. They've won a handful of awards, and Perera has been praised for broadening the scope of what gins can taste like.

These are all sold by the bottle, as tasting flights and in cocktails from his bar in Mitcham.

A small selection of bar snacks are also available right now — sardines with bread, olives and charcuterie — but Perera is working to expand the food offerings.

He brought on Dan Greenwood (ex-Naked for Satan) to establish a new kitchen and dining menu. This won't be up and running until the end of the year, but we'll be sure to keep you posted when we receive updates.

You'll find Dutch Rules Distilling Co. at 1/586 Whitehorse Road, Mitcham, open 4–10pm Wednesday–Friday, 12–9pm on Saturday, and 12–7pm on Sunday. For more information, head to the venue's website.