36 Short — Adelaide's Most Personal Craft Distillery
36 Short is one of South Australia's most heartfelt and distinctive craft spirit producers — a small-batch distillery born from a family dream, built on genuine quality, and named after a suit size. Located just outside Adelaide, 36 Short has grown from a deeply personal tribute into an award-winning range of gins, vodkas, whiskies, rakia, and liqueurs, all crafted using ingredients sourced directly from the family farm or the finest Australian produce, with absolutely no artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives.
History & The Story Behind the Name
36 Short was founded by brothers Jon and Con to bring their father Pando's dream to life — a dream of distilling Rakia with a modern twist. Rakia, the traditional Balkan fruit brandy, was close to Pando's heart, and his sons were determined to honour that passion in the most meaningful way they could.
When Pando passed away, Jon and Con wanted to celebrate his memory in a way that was both lighthearted and deeply personal. The answer was simple: name the brand after his suit size. 36 Short. It is a family joke that holds a special place in their hearts — a small detail that carries enormous warmth, and a reminder that every bottle of 36 Short is made in the spirit of good times, quality drinks, and the enduring memory of their beloved father.
Since those early days, 36 Short has expanded well beyond Rakia into an award-winning range of craft spirits that showcases the brothers' dedication to quality, creativity, and the honest use of exceptional Australian ingredients. Every batch is small. Every bottle tells a story.
The Region: Adelaide & South Australia
36 Short is based just outside Adelaide, the capital of South Australia — a city that has quietly become one of Australia's most exciting craft spirits destinations. South Australia's Mediterranean climate — warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters — is ideal for growing the citrus fruits, grains, and botanicals that form the foundation of the 36 Short range. The state's rich agricultural heritage, world-class wine regions, and culture of food and drink excellence have made it a natural home for artisan producers who care deeply about provenance and quality.
The lemons used in 36 Short's Limoncello are grown on the family's own farm — a direct connection between the land, the family, and the bottle that is rare even in the craft spirits world. This farm-to-bottle philosophy is central to everything 36 Short produces.
Production Philosophy
36 Short is built on three non-negotiable principles: small-batch production, exceptional Australian ingredients, and zero artificial additives. No artificial flavours. No artificial colours. No preservatives. What goes into a 36 Short bottle is exactly what it says on the label — nothing more, nothing less. Each batch is crafted by hand with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that every expression in the range delivers a genuine and exceptional drinking experience.
Our Range
36 Short Limoncello 500mL — A reimagined Limoncello of genuine citrus freshness and character, handcrafted in Adelaide using home-grown lemons from the family farm. Bright, luminous lemon yellow in the glass. The nose is fresh and immediately uplifting — refreshing citrus bursts of home-grown lemon lead a clean, vibrant bouquet entirely free from the artificial sweetness that defines lesser Limoncello. On the palate it is bright, zesty, and beautifully balanced — the home-grown lemon character delivers a refreshing citrus burst that is clean, natural, and deeply satisfying. No shortcuts. Just exceptional Limoncello crafted with care and family pride. Best served well chilled, neat as a digestif after a long meal, or in a Limoncello Spritz with Prosecco and a slice of fresh lemon.
The 36 Short range also includes award-winning expressions across Gin, Vodka, Whisky, and the traditional Balkan Rakia that inspired the distillery's founding — all crafted to the same uncompromising standard of quality and provenance.
How to Enjoy 36 Short
The Limoncello is best served straight from the freezer — ice cold, in a small chilled glass, as a digestif after a long meal with good company. It is equally outstanding as an aperitif mixed with tonic or soda, or as the star of a Limoncello Spritz with Prosecco and a fresh lemon slice. However you serve it, serve it cold and serve it with the people you love — exactly as Pando would have wanted.
Explore our 36 Short range below and discover the spirits that Jon and Con built in honour of their father — a distillery with a name that makes you smile and a liquid that makes you stay.
