Wharf St. Distillery Launches Its First Vodka with Exclusive One-Night Party
Wharf St. Distillery is expanding beyond gin with the release of its first vodka, marking a new chapter for the Forster-based distillery and hospitality venue.
Wharf St. Vodka is a clean, crisp and contemporary spirit made for the way people actually drink. With a soft texture, smooth finish and enough character to remain interesting, it has been designed to work just as well in a well-made cocktail as it does with soda and lime or poured ice-cold straight from the freezer.
The new release follows years of building Wharf St. Distillery’s reputation around its range of locally made gins, cocktails and modern Australian food. The vodka represents a natural evolution for the business, broadening its spirits range while maintaining the approachable style that has become central to the Wharf St. brand.
Rather than creating a vodka that disappears behind mixers, the team wanted to produce a spirit with balance, texture and versatility.
“Vodka is often treated as though it should have no personality at all, but we wanted ours to have a little more presence,” Wharf St. Distillery co-founder Tim Cooke said.
“It needed to be exceptionally clean and smooth, but also have enough texture and character to make a simple vodka, lime and soda feel considered. It is polished without being complicated and designed to be enjoyed rather than overanalysed.”
To celebrate the release, Wharf St. Distillery will host an exclusive VIP launch party on Friday 26 June, giving guests the first opportunity to taste the new spirit at the venue.
The one-night-only event will run from 6pm until 11pm and will combine a premium cocktail-party atmosphere with the relaxed, social style for which Wharf St. has become known.
Tickets are priced at $59 and include VIP entry, a Wharf St. Vodka cocktail on arrival and roving canapés throughout the evening. Guests will also have access to four specially created vodka cocktails at an approachable launch-night price, along with exclusive bottle offers available only during the event.
The canapé menu has been created to complement the clean and refreshing nature of the vodka, with dishes including mini lobster and prawn rolls, potato rosti with crème fraîche and roe, smoked beetroot pâté toast, tempura prawns with lemon, blini with sour cream and salmon, and arancini.
Live entertainment will keep the crown entertained and grooving throughout the night.
The launch has been designed as more than a traditional product tasting. Guests will be able to experience Wharf St. Vodka across a range of serves, beginning with a refreshing arrival cocktail before exploring a focused menu featuring drinks such as a new take on a vodka lime and soda, a bright vodka Collins and an Espresso Martini. A fourth feature cocktail will be revealed closer to the event.
“The launch party is about introducing the vodka in the environment it was made for,” Cooke said.
“We want people to taste it, enjoy some great food, try it in a few different cocktails and have a genuinely good night. It is not intended to feel like a formal spirits seminar. It is a celebration and the first chance for our guests to experience the newest part of Wharf St.”
Wharf St. Vodka is bottled at 40 per cent alcohol by volume in a 750ml bottle and will retail for $49. It will be available through Wharf St. Distillery, online and through selected wholesale partners.
Only 100 tickets will be released for the VIP launch party, with the limited capacity intended to preserve the atmosphere of an exclusive first tasting.
Event Details
Wharf St. Vodka VIP Launch Party
Date: Friday 26 June 2026
Time: 6pm–11pm
Location: Wharf St. Distillery, Forster
Tickets: $59 per person
Tickets include a vodka cocktail on arrival, roving canapés, live entertainment and access to exclusive launch-night cocktail and bottle offers.
The menu may not be suitable for vegetarians.
This is an 18+ event.
NOTE: Wharf St. Vodka is bottled at 40 per cent alcohol by volume in a 750ml bottle and will retail for $49. It will be available through Wharf St. Distillery, online and through selected wholesale partners.
