Mogo just got fun for adults – meet the new distillery and accommodation combination
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No longer just a pit stop to visit the lolly shop, with the opening of a new distillery, Mogo has quickly become a weekend destination for adults looking for something different to do.
Officially launching in September, the family-owned and operated Foxdog Distillery is breathing new life into the small heritage town – bringing a unique experience to the culinary and craft scene. And with some luxe on-site accommodation just down the road (so you can literally roll yourself home), a trip to the South Coast for some summer sips has never sounded so good.
So of course we had to try it for ourselves.
Here’s how we spent 24 hours eating and drinking at Foxdog Distillery and relaxing at Jaguar Stay.
2 pm: Check into Jaguar Stay
Situated on a 170-acre cattle farm, just behind Mogo Zoo, Jaguar Stay is a hidden gem on the South Coast.
Opened three years ago by the family also behind Foxdog Distillery the six luxury one-bedroom villas are where nature and luxury meet for an unforgettable experience.
Driving past the distillery, roaming cattle and bushland, you can almost forget that Batemans Bay is only a quick 10-minute drive away – and from the minute you walk into the accommodation, you’re transported into a luxurious escape.
Quiet and private, from the interiors to the bedding, every detail is considered – from the French linen to the chocolates left on the bed. With the weather already warming up, the private deck, BBQ, fire pit, and plunge pool looked ideal for a lazy afternoon relaxing while the full kitchen offers the opportunity to cook your own meals, so you don’t need to leave the property (unless you want to).
Offering opportunities to kayak through the river or explore the farm, if we had stayed for more than one night, it wasn’t hard to imagine spending a few hours exploring Mogo Village, having a picnic by the river, and wandering through the farmland before watching the sunset from the pool.
But as we settled in at Jaguar Stay, there was one detail that took the accommodation from gorgeous to gasp-worthy – spotting giraffes from Mogo Zoo through the trees lining the river.
4.30 pm: Pre-dinner drinks at Foxdog Distillery
While they’re only minutes away from each other (20 minutes walking and about five minutes driving), Foxdog Distillery and Jaguar Stay feel worlds apart.
Set on the scenic hills of Sunnyside Park, overlooking the farmland, Foxdog has everything you want from a distillery: a great outlook, fantastic drinks, and delicious food. And on a Saturday afternoon, it’s the place to be.
Overflowing with people, the spirits were running high as woodfired pizzas and endless G&Ts were served, the bar pouring and shaking cocktails non-stop.
Originally launching with six distinct introductory flavours, the gins at Foxdog are unique. Using the finest homegrown and locally sourced ingredients where possible, unlike other gin distilleries they do single distiller runs – putting in the botanicals for individual runs before blending the flavours. The result? A smooth and flavour-packed drop.
After starting with a G&T – a Signature Gin served with a Long Days Premium Tonic, lime, and cucumber for me and a Mandarin Gin with Citrus Tonic, dried mandarin and rosemary for my partner – we tried the tasting paddle for the full Foxdog experience.
And while the Signature Gin, Navy Strength Gin, Rosella Gin, and Signature Vodka were all good, it was the Mandarin Gin that we couldn’t stop sipping.
Cue more Mandarin Gin with Citrus Tonics, all enjoyed while looking out over the hills.
6 pm: Dinner at Foxdog Distillery
With an authentic wood-fired pizza oven and a menu designed to pair perfectly with seasonal cocktails or gin flights, dinner at Foxdog was a no-brainer. And luckily, we were hungry.
Offering a diverse menu (including a ‘Pup’ section for the little ones), we ordered the Black Mussels with chorizo, Spanish chilli tomato sauce, white wine, basil and toasted sourdough, broccolini with smoked paprika butter, roasted almonds and soft herbs and the Sunnyside Salad – sweet garden peas, quinoa, sundried tomatoes, Persian fetta, rocket and roast almond – all to share.
My partner also ordered himself a Broulee pizza featuring the mouth-watering combination of prawns marinated in garlic and chilli flakes because, with a name like that, it felt rude not to. And he says it was worth every bite.
Delicious, fresh and very filling, we enjoyed every dish and would happily go back again to eat our way through more of the menu. Ending the meal with a Starley Martini (Vanilla Vodka, passionfruit, kiwifruit, lime, and foam), we stumbled back to our accommodation for a blissful night of sleep with a very full – and happy – stomach.
7 am: Breakfast at accommodation
Waking up to the sunrise and the view of a zebra through the trees, we didn’t have far to go for breakfast. With a hamper included in our stay, we stayed in bed for a lazy Sunday morning and nibbled on croissants, fresh season fruit, and yoghurt while we sipped on coffee and watched the animals.
It was bliss.
9 am: Tour at Foxdog Distillery
While checkout wasn’t until 12 pm, we did have some very important plans that morning – and that was meeting owner and operator Kellie Plenty and her husband Ben for a proper tour of the distillery.
Explaining that the idea for Foxdog was born from a desire to open something that would benefit both the local community and tourists, she says that project was six years in the making.
“We have the zoo, amazing beaches, some great restaurants – we just felt that there needed to be another tourist attraction,” she says.
“Foxdog Distillery is more than a business to us; it’s our legacy.”
As she leads us around the small distillery, you can see that Kellie and her entire family have poured all of their time and love into creating an amazing experience that both tourists and locals can enjoy. And if the previous night was any indicator, Foxdog is already making a name for itself as the place to go.
But why the name ‘Foxdog’?
“My parents brought this property in 2009 and in 2009 my son was born,” says Kellie.
“There are five grandkids now and they’ve all been told the mythical creature of the Foxdog roams this property. My dad invented it to scare them…so when we were thinking of a name, we knew it had to be Foxdog.”
Planning on holding tours and distilling workshops in the future (which include using a mini still to make your own gin), Foxdog will also be introducing whisky and beer in 2025.
Currently in the process of building a marquee for weddings, celebrations and corporate functions, as Foxdog expands even more, it looks like Mogo will soon be on the map for adults looking for something a little different to do down the South Coast.
The perfect mix of luxe and laid-back, I know that we’ll be back – and it won’t just be for the Mandarin Gin.
For more information, visit jaguarstay.com and foxdogdistillery.com.
The author stayed and dined courtesy of Jaguar Stay and Foxdog Distillery, however, all opinions are her own.
