Sommelier-turned-distiller Paul Walton has made an immediate impact on the gin sector just 12 months after launching his new Sydney-based brand, Winsor Dobbin reports.
Saint Juniper picked up three medals at the recent 2025 Royal Melbourne Australian International Spirits Awards, including a gold for Saint Juniper Original Dry.
Saint Juniper was earlier named Australian Spirit of the Year at the 2025 London Spirits Competition – a bold debut for the micro brand. Saint Juniper’s collection currently includes four distinct gins, each batch micro-distilled using sustainable technology and organically sourced botanicals.
Every bottle is marked with a number, in the order they were created, following what inner west-based Walton says mimics the methodical craft of a perfumer.
Walton’s drinks story began when he was very young. On family trips to the Hunter Valley, a 10-year-old Paul was intrigued by flavours and aromas. That early curiosity evolved into a career exploring the nuances of wine and spirits, culminating in over 18,000 guided tastings through his tasting series Drinks with Dave.
With a background in wine education and years of hands-on sensory work, Walton made a bold move in 2023. Rather than acquire a distillery, he built one from the ground up. His equipment arrived in March 2024, and within weeks, he was submitting his first batches to major competitions.
Saint Juniper’s collection currently includes four distinct gins, each one micro-distilled in Alexandria in small batches using high-end Dutch equipment. All flavour profiles are developed over three to four weeks, allowing the botanicals to evolve.
● No. 1 – Original Dry: A contemporary take on a classic dry gin.
● No. 2 – Citrus Contemporary: Bold and bright with grapefruit, sweet orange and elderberry. Designed for summer spritzes and cocktails.
● No. 3 – Raspberry & Hibiscus Pink Gin: Delicate and floral, made with real raspberries, rose petals and hibiscus.
● No. 4 – Mediterranean Gin: Savoury with notes of Greek olives, fresh rosemary and bay leaf.
All retail in 500ml bottles for $69, as well as in mini bottles for $17, and in tasting sets of four 100ml bottles ($59).
Saint Juniper is designed for thoughtful drinking, Walton says.
“It is not a party gin,” Walton says. “It is a gin for slowing down, for rituals, for sharing or enjoying alone. I wanted it to match any space, any style, but always stand out for its quality.”
See https://saintjuniper.com.au/
Meanwhile, distilleries from Marrickville, Balmain and Lilyfield districts have joined forces with the Inner West Council to launch the Inner West Distillery Trail, a new initiative spotlighting the world-class spirits being made locally.
The new tasting trail features a broad range of whisky, rum, gin and vodka distilleries, all located within a tight radius, and follows on from the Inner West Ale Trail initiative for beer.
Mayor Darcy Byrne, who officially launched the trail Red Mill Rum Distillery, said: “By creating the distillery trail, we’ll make the Inner West a mecca for spirit connoisseurs looking to explore the range of flavours on offer, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the distillers’ art. You won’t find a more welcoming and vibrant group of world-class distillers anywhere else in Australia.”
To begin with, the Inner West Distillery Trail includes nine craft distilleries: Ester Spirits, Eureka Distilling, Lily Fields Distilling Co, Moonshiner Distilling Collaboration, Otter Craft Distilling, Poor Toms, Red Mill Rum, Unexpected Guest Distillery, and Blackwattle Distilling Co.
