A sunset cruise with cocktails, a gin masterclass, wine flights paired with local food and a craft beer festival are among the events to raise your glass to during April's Tasting the Tropics in Tropical North Queensland.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) Chief Executive Officer Mark Olsen said the region's inaugural month-long celebration of local produce was introducing locals and visitors to the destination's unique food story this month with 45 one-off events and month-long activations to enjoy throughout Tropical North Queensland.

“Craft brewing and distilling has exploded in popularity and here in Tropical North Queensland we have several artisans experimenting with local botanicals and flavours such as Ooray plum that turn our pristine water into exciting alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages,” he said.

“I congratulate the tour operators, restaurants and accommodation providers who have partnered with the region's food and drink producers to elevate Tropical North Queensland's food story to a new audience.”

The Cairns Adventure Group has partnered with Wolf Lane to serve gin cocktails on their Trinty Inlet cruises. Guests on the sunset cruise will enjoy a complimentary gin cocktail on arrival during April.

Cairns Adventure Group owner Roderic Rees said partnering with local products like Wolf Lane was a perfect fit for the company's buy local policy.

“Tropical North Queensland's unique produce is very much a part of our tropical lifestyle, and the Cairns Adventure Group is delighted to play a role in showcasing that story to visitors,” he said.

Wolf Lane is also partnering with the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas for a gin masterclass with the distillery's co-founder Sam Kennis.

“I will take guests on a gin journey starting with a cocktail followed by a taste of Wolf Lane's signature products including Limoncello, Tropical Gin, Davidson Plum Gin and Coffee Liqueur,” Mr Kennis said.

“They will hear about the local botanicals we have used to create the gin's uniquely tropic taste and learn whether to pair it with soda or tonic water.”

The Cairns Craft Beer Festival at Hemingway's Brewery on April 18 will bring together five local breweries for an afternoon and evening of fresh new brews with games and live bands. 

Hemingway's Brewery will be joined by Macalister Brewing Company, Copperlode Brewing Company, Billycart Brewing company, and Maggie Island Brewing.

Hemingway's beers and Wolf Lane's spirits will also be celebrated on April 26 at Cairns Wake Park with the lakeside café dishing up local Marsh Butcheries meats and Mungalli dairy products while celebrating cable wakeboarding culture.

Mexicairns squeezes about 300kg of Tropical North Queensland limes a week for their freshly made frozen margaritas and you can try these as part of a two-hour drink package with the TNQ Signature Smoked Meats bottomless package on April 17.

Taste Ooray plum in Ochre Restaurant's Cassowary Cocktail, Rainforest Margarita Cocktail and Etch Sparkling Water.

The Conservatory Bar has created a special wine flight paired with two small plates, Tablelands Blue Beef Carpaccio and Chocolate Port Panna Cotta, which showcase their favourite local ingredients.

Epicurean Port Douglas has Wine Flights and Lite Bites on Fridays at 4-6pm for their Apero afternoons, the hour or two before dinner when you can warm up your palate with bite-sized morsels paired with a wine flight selection.

Try fortified tropical fruit wines made from local produce with a curated tasting flight at Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery at Mossman or sip complimentary tropical cocktails when your order The Tin Shed's chilled seafood platter during April in Port Douglas.

Non-alcoholic options are also available with Jack Murat Coffee at Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands offering coffee tours and tastings and Scoo Brew Kombucha giving 15 per cent off their gut-friendly brews when you show the Tasting the Tropics promo on your phone.

Discover many more Tasting the Tropics events at: tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/tasting-the-tropics/

ENDS

TTNQ Contact: Liz Inglis | liz.inglis@ttnq.org.au| 0419 643 494