Gintonica Gin Podcast

David Box & John Deeks head to NSW and then into QLD. So firstly they chat by phone - due to that awful virus - with Harriett Messenger. Harriett is part of the family behind Husk Distillers, along with dad Paul and his wife Mandy Perkins. Based in North Tumbulgum, in northern NSW, Husk are most known for their Ink Gin, however rum also inspires the Husk team. Like whisky, rum must be aged before release, so while waiting for maturation, gin can help the cash rolling in and with Ink Gin they...

There are so many pioneers in the Australia liquors landscape. Boxy and Deeksie chat with two. Shaun Byrne was a longtime member of the Gin Palace crew, during which time he cofounded the Maidenii brand of vermouth. Not satisfied with that he cofounded the Marionette brand of liqueurs and went on to author a number of books, including The Book of Vermouth. Next up the guys chat with Ryan Hartshorn, who pioneered Tasmania’s first alcohol distillery to work with sheep’s whey as a ferment raw...

What do wine labels Seppelt Great Western, Jansz, Torbreck and Penfolds have in common? A couple of their winemakers are now distilling gin! Deeksie & Boxy journey down to Tasmania to The Abel Gin Co. for a chat with Kim Seagram (of the famous Canadian Seagram liquor family) and Natalie Fryer (ex-Seppelt GW and Jansz). We then return to the Barossa Valley, this time to the Barossa Distilling Co. with Neil Bullock and distiller Peter Hiscock. Natalie at Abel is, in fact, a South Australian...

The Barossa Valley and Margaret River are well known for wine, however increasingly gin is making its presence known. Deeksie and Boxy interview Jon and Nicole Durdin at Seppeltsfield Road Distillers in South Australia who have made a big splash in the gin world, already winning gold medals in prestigious competitions. Then on to Paul White at The West Winds Gin Company in WA. TWW is one of the oldest gin producers in the new era of distilling in Australia and have won some of the earliest...

This time Deeksie and Boxy head south to Tasmania, the home of our modern era distilling. It was back in 1992 that Bill Lark of Lark Distilleries lobbied to have the maximum volume of a licensed still dropped down over 10 fold so he could make whisky. In this episode we talk to William (Bill) McHenry about how he came to find himself in Port Arthur with fresh air and pristine spring water. One of the older distilleries in Australia makes more whisky than gin, but sells more gin than whisky -...

Deeksie and Boxy have to resort to calling up the distilleries that they really, really want to visit - but can't. We all know why. In this episode we explore the back story of Manly Spirits Company with founders Vanessa Wilton and David Whittaker as well as Bellarine Distillery with Russell Watson. Established in 2016, Manly were a breath of fresh ocean air to the gin scene in Sydney and New South Wales. They have nailed the spirit of Australia's emerging liquor scene in a style that should...

John Deeks and David Box leave the distilleries and pop into the most iconic cocktail and gin bar in Melbourne, maybe Australia: The Gin Palace. In May 2020, entrepreneur and bon vivant Vernon Chalker passed away, aged 55. The man was a visionary, opening The Gin Palace down a laneway in the Melbourne CBD in 1997. Later to also launch Madame Brussels, Collins Quarter and Bar Ampere, his was to The Gin Palace that tempted lovers of the juniper. With a Belle Époque salaciousness, this...

David & John are once again travelling country Victoria. This time on the was to the Alpine region, with a stop at Milawa and a small diversion to Hurdle Creek Still. We chat with Simon Brooke-Taylor, who has a history in brewing as well as distilling. There is so much to learn here about Jeneve, Patis and other spirits. We then carry on to Bright where we visit Hamish Nugent and Rachel Reed at Reed + Co Distillery. They are experiment with amazing flavours in their "Spirit Lab". For...

David & John are off visiting rural Victorian distilleries. One of the older distilleries in this modern gin era, Melbourne Gin Company is located in the southern reaches of the Yarra Valley, We speak to Andrew Marks and Louise Armstrong (distiller) based at the Gembrook Hill Vineyard about wine, gin, James Bond and the Martini. Animus is an absolutely brilliant destination in Kyneton, 100km north of Melbourne. With its cocktail bar and distillery nestled in this town with its restaurants...

This time David Box & John Deeks continue their journey around Victoria with a visit to Anther Distillery in Geelong and Big Tree Distillery in the Macedon Ranges. Anther moved from Collingwood to Geelong, back to where Derv McGowan and Seb Reaburn first met. We discuss their time starting 1806 gin bar, setting up distilling at The Craft & Co, experimental gins and their new location. We then head to Newham to visit Big Tree Distillery where we meet Catherine Crothers and Gary Jago and For...

David Box & John Deeks visit Tiny Bear Distillery and Patient Wolf Distillery. Tiny Bear is in Knoxfield, in the eastern burbs of Melbourne and Damien Anderson chats about teaching, bears, beards, doctors, gypsies and kale. Patient Wolf has their still and bar in Southbank, Melbourne, where we chat to Dave Irwin and Matt Argus about Lana Turner, heads, hearts, tonka beans and summer thyme. For everything gin, as well as a copy of David's book, "Australian Gin" and Aussie Gin tasting packs,...