Three Cuts Gin, the internationally acclaimed Tasmanian gin, has made its highly anticipated debut across the U.S., launching recently in New York, Texas, Nevada, and earlier in California. It marks a significant milestone for the brand, which has already accumulated over 40 local and international awards.

As the first-ever Tasmanian spirit to enter the U.S. market, Three Cuts Gin, founded by an American-born entrepreneur Justin Turner, uniquely combines the best of Tasmanian botanicals with a bold innovative approach to distilling. Inspired by breathtaking landscapes and rich award-winning wineries in the Tamar Valley, Turner aimed to capture the island’s essence in every bottle.

Turner was particularly interested in developing a distinctive flavour profile that would also appeal to American palates. By adopting a unique and meticulous distillation process and focusing on small-batch production, he delivers an authentic and appealing taste of Tasmania. With support through an Export Development Grant via Austrade, Turner has opened the door wide in the U.S. for Three Cuts Gin. 

“We’re so proud to see the positive response that U.S. consumers already have to our premium range of Tasmanian gins. We’re adding new customers each month and have recently appointed a third-party sales team to cover the West Coast, East Coast and Houston markets,” says Justin Turner, Founder, Owner and Co-Distiller of Three Cuts Gin.

“We’ve worked hard to capture the unique taste of Tasmania in a tipple. Starting from the purity of its waters, the delicate scent of roses and a fresh citrus burst to create an epicurean delight worthy of its name.” 

Over the past four years, the Three Cuts Gin range has won over 40 international and local awards, including Winner of Best Gin in Australia (Aus Gin Awards), Best International Gin (ADI), several Best In Class awards, and multiple Gold medals at San Francisco World Spirits Awards and International Wine & Spirits (IWSC). In a recent industry taste test of 120 gins for the National Liquor News Trade Buyers Guide, two of Three Cuts Gins ranked number three and four, scoring more than 90 points.  

Produced at Turner Stillhouse in the Tamar Valley, Three Cuts Gin is thoughtfully crafted to deliver a flavour profile that’s all heart. Named for its selected “three cuts of rose” added during distillation, Three Cuts Gin employs several unique methods to celebrate its Tasmanian provenance. 

While many other distilleries use a grain or sugar base, Three Cuts Gin is made from a premium grape base as a nod to the region’s and Justin’s own winemaker heritage. Rather than typically using dehydrated citrus peel, fresh local citrus is cut and quartered early each day of distilling. The distillery then uses a special steeping process and Dutch still to extract more flavour from all the botanicals. The result is a full-bodied gin that highlights and heroes the best of the Tamar Valley.

Justin Turner’s journey to becoming a Tasmanian distiller began in his family’s sun-drenched vineyards of Northern California, where he has many cherished memories. After building a successful career for himself in finance in New York, he fell in love with a Tasmanian and was captivated by her island home. During a break from his corporate career, he explored a growing interest in crafting spirits and completed several courses around the U.S. Ultimately, inspired by the Tamar Valley’s winemaking heritage, natural beauty and bountiful produce, he established Turner Stillhouse there in 2018.

“I might have fallen in love with a Tasmanian first, but it didn’t take me long to fall in love with Tasmania, too,” says Turner. 

“Fresh produce here in Tamar Valley and Tasmania is quite incredible, and we wanted to weave that story into our spirits. For our signature botanical, we partnered with a talented local rose grower and source citrus directly from the backyards of our local neighbours. We’ve designed a distillation process to bring out these flavours and aromas. Every sip is a delicious part of the Tamar Valley story, adding to Tasmania’s rich history of distilling.”

Aside from the Three Cuts Gin range, Turner Stillhouse also produces an award-winning vodka and will soon release its first whisky, drafted for early 2025. Turner Stillhouse also offers several Cellar Door experiences with daily tours and tastings for visitors to Tamar Valley in Tasmania.  

“I’m loving this new adventure that I’m on. In a way, I’ve returned to my roots in a new country and now get to share my craft and the essence of Tasmania with the rest of the world,” says Turner.