Chardonnay barrel aged gin – The Red Goat
We’ve just rolled out our newest Chardonnay Barrel Aged Gin – the Red Goat. We’ve been aging our award-winning Wild Tasmanian Gin in a French-oak chardonnay wine barrel for a few months, allowing it to develop an elegant full-bodied taste with oaky complexity and sweet depth.
The wine barrel comes from a local Tamar valley winery (Goaty Hill) and is a 220L French Oak barrel previously used to age Chardonnay.
Chardonnay Barrel Aged Gin Tasting notes
Rested for 9 months in a refilled French Oak Chardonnay cask from Tasmania’s Tamar Valley, this limited release boasts a rich, golden hue and an even greater depth of barrel character. Creamy, buttery notes and layers of toffee, sweet caramel and vanilla now dominate, beautifully complementing Bright Night’s signature earthy warmth. Heavy oak and subtle spice round out the palate, with a long, smooth finish and hints of dried fruit.
Perfect neat, on the rocks, or as a whisky-lover’s alternative in classic cocktails. Exceptional in a layered Gin & Tonic or aged Negroni.
Original price was: $99.00.$94.00Current price is: $94.00. incl GSTAdd to cart
- The ultimate combination of
- Award winning gin, chardonnay wine
- French oak barrel and
- Tasmania’s unique climate
Chardonnay grapes
Chardonnay is a popular white grape variety that is often used to make dry, full-bodied wines with flavors of green apple, pear, and lemon. Chardonnay wines are also known for their buttery and creamy texture, which can be attributed in part to the oak barrels in which they are often aged.
French oak barrels
French oak barrels are often considered the standard for aging spirits due to their subtle and complex flavors. Gin aged in French oak barrels can have flavors of vanilla, toast, and spice. French oak barrels also provide a smooth and creamy texture to the gin. French oak is typically more expensive than other types of oak.
Chardonnay Barrel Aged Gin Awards
Australian Gin Awards 2025
Best VIC Matured Gin
Australian Gin Awards 2023
Gold Award
Melbourne Royal Distilled Spirits Awards 2026
Gold Award - Barrel Aged Gin
Australian International Spirits Awards 2026
Silver Award for Gin and Tonic
The Super Spirits Awards 2025
Silver Award - Barrel Aged Gin
Australian Distilled Spirits Awards 2024
Silver Award
Australian Gin Awards 2025
Silver Award - Barrel Aged Gin
Australian International Spirits Awards 2025
Bronze Award - Barrel Aged Gin
London Spirits Competition 2025
Bronze Award - 88 Points - Wood Finished Gin
Australian Distilled Spirits Awards 2023
Bronze Award
Australian Gin Awards 2024
Bronze Award - Matured Gin
Australian Gin Awards 2024
Bronze Award - Matured Gin
Retains more flavour with 45% alcohol
14 local and imported botanicals
Made with pure Tasmanian mountain water
Award-winning gin by a multi award-winning distillerBright Night Chardonnay Barrel Aged Gin Reviews
Bright Night Chardonnay Barrel Aged Gin Tasting Notes
Bright Night Barrel Aged Gin offers a creamy, wood-tinged profile with rich notes of buttery vanillins and caramels. French Oak Chardonnay cask in which it has been rested, imparts a subtle depth and character to this unique expression.
Nose:
Aromas of rich caramel, toffee, and toasted oak are immediately apparent, joined by subtle notes of vanilla and warming spice. Hints of sweetness and gentle woodiness reflect the extended time in barrel.
Palate
Full-bodied and smooth, this gin opens with layers of dark toffee, caramel, and spice. The 9 months in French oak add a whisky-like depth and softness, while vibrant juniper and bright chardonnay notes from the cask keep it fresh and lively.
Finish
Long, buttery, and mouth-coating, the finish reveals toasted spice, roasted nuts, and a final lift of refreshing citrus. Complex, warming, and balanced—ideal for sipping neat or in your favourite cocktail.
Barrel-aged gin is a type of gin that has been aged in oak barrels, similar to how whiskey is aged. The aging process imparts the gin with new flavors and aromas that are characteristic of the barrel in which it was aged, such as vanilla, oak, and caramel. The aging process can last anywhere from several months to several years, and the length of time the gin is aged can affect the final taste and color of the gin.
Barrel-aged gin is typically made by taking a base gin and aging it in a barrel that has previously been used for aging whiskey, wine, or other spirits. The barrel contributes flavors and aromas to the gin that are not found in traditional, un-aged gin. Some barrel-aged gin is made by distilling gin with barrel staves or chips, which allows the gin to absorb the flavors of the barrel during the distillation process.
Barrel-aged gin is often enjoyed as a sipping gin, and its unique flavors and aromas make it a popular choice for cocktails. Many bartenders use barrel-aged gin in place of whiskey in classic cocktails, such as the Manhattan, to add a new twist to the drink.
For our first batch of Barrel Aged gin, we used a 200 liter barrel, which means that we only got a limited amount of Barrel Aged gin so we have to carefully decide where to utilise that gin. We want to make sure our customers get the 700ml bottles which are the best value for our gins. We also want to make sure that our customers can get gift packs with 3 200ml gins and gin tasting packs, 3x 50ml of our gins. So to make sure that we are providing the best value and making sure customers and taste all 3 expressions of our gins, we have decided to not sell the 200ml bottles separately.
If you would like a taste, we recommend purchasing a Gin tasting pack or a gin gift pack
The French Oak barrel that we use to mature our Chardonnay Barrel Aged Gin comes from Goaty Hill Winery in Tamar valley (in particular Tamar ridge). They have now renamed the winery to small wonder wines. Similar to Bright Night Gin, they are sustainable minded and certified organic. The chardonnay comes from 20 hectares of vineyards nestled among native bushlands, 50 meters above sea level. We particularly love the goat sculptures scattered across the winery and in different interesting poses.
Our Barrel-Aged Gin undergoes a unique aging process in Chardonnay barrels, imparting a rich and complex flavor profile, distinct from traditional gins. The aging of the gins in the barrel pulls complex flavours from the barrels creating a delicious infusion of crisp chardonnay flavours, award winning gin flavours and rich oak flavours.
Charlie Chippindall
I won’t lie Chardonnay is far from my favourite wine so to say I was sceptical is an understatement. But boy was I more than pleasantly surprised!
The second this gin hits your nose you are assaulted with vanilla and caramel, it smells like it belongs in a sweet shop, it is delicately smooth and sweet… yet this gin is very deceptive
Tasting straight surprisingly the juniper comes in and dashes away any thought of a sugary sweet treat which, for me at least, was quite a shock! But once you add some tonic to it, it gives the other flavours present room to shine and that vanilla sweetness comes roaring back!
This was highly enjoyable, something I could easily sip away at straight or enjoy in a GnT!!
@awkward_sips
My third Good Food and Wine Festival gin is the Chardonnay Barrel Aged Gin from @brightnightgin
Now I won’t lie Chardonnay is far from my favourite wine so to say I was sceptical is an understatement. But boy was I more than pleasantly surprised!
Nose: the second this gin hits your nose you are assaulted with vanilla and caramel, it smells like it belongs in a sweet shop, it is delicately smooth and sweet… yet this gin is very deceptive
Taste: tasting straight surprisingly the juniper comes in and dashes away any thought of a sugary sweet treat which, for me at least, was quite a shock! But once you add some tonic to it, it gives the other flavours present room to shine and that vanilla sweetness comes roaring back!
Although sweeter than my normal go to gins (well all know I am a dry and bitter kinda gal, that’s how I like my gins too 😉) this was highly enjoyable, something I could easily sip away at in a GnT, although recently having tried a Breakfast martini (stay tuned for that) I think that this is something this gin would shine in! With its sweet vanilla and caramel flavours it would mellow out the acidity of the marmalade perfectly!
Look I know I am liberal with my juniper berries but I can’t help it that I only taste FANTASTIC gins 😂
This gin gets five juniper berries 🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐
Hannah
I'm obsessed with this gin. Im not a Chardonnay fan but this gin is delicious. I was surprised how much I liked it, but it's found its way into my top 5 gins. Give it a go!
Aiden
A great twist on gin - bright and zippy at first, then comfy and sweet from the barrel. Tastes like toasted oak, a bit of vanilla and a hint of caramel. Smooth and easy to sip. Great neat or over ice when you want something a bit special. Also the Gin and Tonic with this is very lovely.
Alysha
Well done Damian and team, my favorite aged gin! Straight or with some Ginger Ale!
Malcolm
Had the pleasure of tasting and purchasing this at the Hobart Twilight Market, best out of the bunch, easy drinking.
Kai
Great oak taste, I enjoy drinking this neat!
Rob
Beautiful packaging, awesome gin, highly recommended!
Vivian
I really enjoyed this gin, especially with its unique barrel aged flavour which was really interesting in a good way. It was great on its own and also great mixed with tonic. The bottle looked nice and the included cocktail book was a cool bonus. A solid choice for anyone looking to try something new and tasty!
Jonathan
Tried the Bright Night Barrel Aged Gin recently and it totally exceeded expectations. Super smooth, with this warm, buttery vibe from the oak barrels that just works so well with the original gin’s earthy, Tasmanian feel. You really get those hints of vanilla and caramel coming through without it being too sweet.
I had it neat the first time – honestly didn’t need anything else – but also gave it a go in a Negroni and it added a really nice depth. It’s like the gin version of a cozy fireside drink. It's something to be had through all 4 seasons.
If you’re into gins that have a bit of a twist and a lot of character, this one’s definitely worth a try. Really well done.
Stefan
I'm more of a whisky drinker but I picked this up at the Australian Distillers Festival because this was just so delicious. I'm not a gin expert, but I know what I like, and this Chardonnay Barrel Aged Gin is amazing! It's got a rich, smooth flavor with hints of vanilla and caramel that I just can't get enough of. I've been sipping it on its own and it's perfect for a special occasion. Highly recommend!
Anny
My new favourite, I’m not exaggerating when I say this gin is the best I’ve ever had, so smooth and easy to sip I haven’t even gotten as far as mixing it with anything just goes down too well neat or on the rocks.
The vanilla and caramel notes from the Chardonnay barrels really shine through without tasting sweet, thought I was a wine girl but this one has me converted. I’ll recommend to anyone.
Andrew Hound
This is no doubt, one of my favourite Bright Night gins. Picked it up at Ginuary last year and got two bottles this year as well! Makes my favourite gin and tonic.
Christine
Bright Night's Barrel Aged Gin will appeal to any ginthusiast. Would also make an ideal introduction for anyone who hasn't tried this style of gin before. I'll be honest and say I had high expectations based on the outstanding quality and flavours of their other gins and this is now in my top 5 👏
Vanilla, caramel and the hint of oak notes seeping through to delight the palate.
The gorgeous light golden colour hue clearly influenced from resting in the French Oak Chardonnay Cask (from a local Tasmanian Vineyard too for bonus points). Just beautiful.
I enjoyed this neat and also over ice to ensure I savour the true flavours. I'll need to buy the bigger bottle to try playing with some other flavour and drink combinations 😏
Thank you @brightnightgin for creating another no doubt award winner.