Fossey’s Carlton: Where Distilling Meets Drinks on Lygon Street

For anyone who hasn’t made the trek to Mildura, Fossey’s Distillery has brought a taste of its small-batch spirits to the heart of Carlton—complete with a copper still, house-pickled vegetables, and a DIY gin lab tucked inside a historic bluestone building.

Spirits with a Twist

Behind the bar, owner-distiller Steve Timmis blends native botanicals—desert lime, pepperberry, saltbush—into a creative lineup that’s anything but standard. There’s blood orange vodka, rum, butterscotch whisky, and even a gin steeped in Christmas pudding spices. The still often hums into the night, turning out limited releases and giving patrons a front-row seat to the process. Upstairs, the cocktail bar leans inventive. Try the Gin Ginger with lime and fresh ginger, or a Saltbush Margarita that swaps tequila for gin. Tasting paddles, house G&Ts, and guest spirits round out a lineup built for both connoisseurs and curious sippers.

Food Worth Pouring Over

The compact menu pairs beautifully with the drinks—and often borrows from the bottle. Pork belly comes cider-marinated and paired with gin-pickled veg, Camembert is baked and drizzled with malt-honey glaze, and the fries arrive with a rich, rum-infused sauce.

Distill-Your-Own

Want to take things up a notch? Sign up for a DIY gin-making masterclass, where you’ll mix, distill, and bottle your own elixir to take home. It's hands-on, a little geeky, and a lot of fun. Fossey’s Carlton captures the craft and character of its regional roots, bottled up in a cosy city haunt where the still never sleeps and the cocktails speak for themselves.