Flights Gin Bar

Established at Penny’s Hill, McLaren Vale in 2019, Flights refers to both flights of gin and cocktails – and has an aeronautical connection. Mad Men OriGINal is a tribute to life and times of 1950s when the gin martini reflected high style and panache. It celebrates savvy, free-spirited arbiters who worked and played outside the framework of convention…its undone bow tie imagery reflects the era. Vimy, the second Flights gin label, associates directly with the centenary in 2019 of the pioneering aviation feats of famous South Australians, Sir Ross & Sir Keith Smith, who with their intrepid crew, Lieutenants Wally Shiers and Jim Bennett, were winners of first England to Australia flight in 1919. Their aircraft, a Vickers Vimy bomber is housed at Adelaide Airport and images of the crew and their aircraft adorn the walls of the gin bar. Flights refers of course to an array of gin tasting options on wing-shaped paddles which may be sampled. Both gins are distilled by Kangaroo Island Spirits and the building housing the gin experience is a historic 1850’s carriage house used by the original owners of the property to store their horse drawn carriages. Penny’s Hill has further aero connections: the property boasts a 500m airstrip, is home base to local helicopter charter operation, Helivista, along with parachute jumping over summer.