Bali’s Spice Islands Distilling Blends Local Craft With Global Spirits

Keramas — Spice Islands Distilling Co., one of Indonesia’s first craft distilleries, is putting Bali-made gin and Mexican agave spirits on the radar of the country’s bars and cocktail programs through its East Indies gin range and the La Piña Tequilana line of agave-based spirits. Both brands highlight how a Keramas Beach distillery is tying local production to international spirits traditions.

The distillery operates a custom 550-litre copper still named Gede at its site near the black sands of Keramas Beach in Bali, designed and built by German still-maker CARL. According to company information, Spice Islands Distilling Co. differentiates itself from other Indonesian spirit producers through small-batch, “authentically distilled” products that use imported Macedonian juniper with Indonesian botanicals.

Gin distilled on Keramas Beach

East Indies gins are distilled in small batches at the Keramas Beach distillery, using the Gede still to produce several variants, including Archipelago Dry Gin, Bali Pomelo Pink Gin and Banda Fine Spiced Negroni Gin. Macedonian juniper is imported and macerated alongside Indonesian botanicals such as torch ginger flower and Batak pepper, giving the range a distinctly local flavour profile, according to coverage by lifestyle titles and the producer itself.

Company and media descriptions emphasise that East Indies gins are made without artificial flavourings, with their character derived from botanicals used in distillation. One product listing for Bali Pomelo Pink Gin specifies an alcohol content of 40% and an origin of Indonesia, with a 700 ml format positioned for classic serves like gin and tonic or bramble-style cocktails.

Distribution focuses on the hospitality trade and specialist retail. East Indies gins are described as available at top restaurants and bars across Bali and Jakarta, as well as selected retailers, and can also be purchased directly from the producer or online platforms. Regional lifestyle media report that the brand has expanded its export presence through participation in international spirits events and competitions, where East Indies variants have picked up medals and commendations in recent years.

Agave spirits rooted in Mexico, bottled in Indonesia

La Piña Tequilana, profiled by Bali-focused publications, offers an agave-based alternative within the same portfolio. The spirits are made from 100% Blue Weber agave (Agave tequilana) distilled in Jalisco, Mexico, a key production region for tequila, before bottling in Indonesia. Because Mexican denomination-of-origin regulations restrict the use of the term “tequila” to spirits produced and bottled within specific regions in Mexico, including Jalisco, brands using Mexican agave distillate but bottling abroad adopt different naming conventions based on the agave species.

La Piña Tequilana’s positioning reflects these rules: the name references the agave variety and the piña, or heart of the plant, while signalling that the spirit is made from Blue Weber agave distilled in Mexico and then bottled in Indonesia. The range consists of Blanco and Reposado expressions, described by Bali-based media as suitable for drinking neat, over ice or in cocktails such as Margaritas and long highball serves.

According to those reports, the Blanco expression leans toward citrus, pepper and light spice, while the Reposado is rested in wood barrels for added softness and subtle oak, alongside citrus and spice notes. Both products are framed as aimed at Indonesia’s bars, restaurants and home drinkers, though coverage does not yet detail specific outlets or cities.

Local craft, imported inputs

Taken together, East Indies and La Piña Tequilana illustrate two models for premium spirits associated with Bali. East Indies gins are distilled on Keramas Beach from imported juniper and Indonesian botanicals in a German-built still, fitting the narrative of locally made craft gin with international ingredients. La Piña Tequilana, by contrast, relies on Mexico-based agave cultivation and distillation, with bottling and brand-building taking place in Indonesia.

For consumers, that distinction clarifies what “made in Bali” can mean in the premium spirits segment. East Indies gin can be described as distilled in Bali, using imported botanicals and local flavours, while La Piña Tequilana emphasises Mexican origin for the base spirit combined with Indonesian bottling and market focus. Neither brand’s publicly available information provides a full picture of national retail coverage or price positioning, but both are clearly targeting the country’s growing appetite for craft-style gin and agave-based cocktails.

Sources

• Spice Islands Distilling Co – Distillery page
• Epicure Asia – Spiced and Praised: East Indies Gin from Spice Islands Distilling Co. Continues to Garner Awards
• NOW! Bali – East Indies Gin: A Real Craft Gin Inspired by Indonesia and Made in Bali
• NOW! Jakarta – Introducing East Indies Banda Fine Spiced Negroni Gin, An Homage to the Archipelago
• Wine Paris – Exhibitor profile: Spice Islands Distilling Company
• ThreeSixty Guides – 5 Top Reasons to Buy Your Next Gin and Tonic Online
• Jose Cuervo – Tequila Facts
• CrushBrew – Tequila Guide 2026: What’s Really in Your Bottle
• Shopee Indonesia – Spice Islands Distilling Co store
• LinkedIn – Spice Islands Distilling Co