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Women of Australian Distilling had a pretty extraordinary year and now that we're coming into 2023, it's time to look back on the moments that made us smile and some of the achievements that were made by inspiring women in the Australian distilling industry! 1. We launched our brand new website! Our new website was a big milestone for us, and since its launch in March, we have only developed it more and more. A place for networking and sharing some pretty great success stories. We wanted this to be a place for women in the industry to find others in similar roles and to reach out if they have any questions. It's about recognising the achievements of distillers, owners, sales representatives, marketers and every role in between. 2. YCK Laneways Event August saw us engage in a series of masterclasses alongside YCK Laneways and Front & Centre. Featuring 8 ladies from various parts of the country, they all came together to run masterclasses in front of a large crowd. Celia Wynne - Bartender at Naught Distilling, VIC Gemma Duff - General Manager at Poor Toms, NSW Ash Clinton - Distiller at Grainshaker, VIC Natalie Ng- Brand Owner at Tilde, NSW Joey Tai - Distiller at Anther Spirits, VIC Sarah Wallace - Distiller at Animus Distillery, VIC Carlie Dyer - Distiller & Blender at Starward, VIC Lisa Truscott - Distiller at Archie Rose, NSW Each woman brought their own flair to the masterclasses and it was extremely inspiring to see how enthusiastic they all were to speak on the brands that they are so passionate about. A special thank you to Christina Butcher from Mr & Mrs Romance for hosting the event and helping the girls to feel right in their element! 3. Our Advisory Board was set These 5 fabulous humans will be leading the way for Women of Australian Distilling with the first board meeting to take place in 2023, Paul Mcleay, Harriet Leigh, Nicole Lestal, Dervilla McGowan and Kathleen Davies. Big things to come! 4. The Social Media revamp of all revamps! You may have noticed our socials (particularly Instagram) taking on a new and fresh theme. We wanted to feature all of the amazing women in the industry and do it in a way that can be looked back on regularly. Our posts aim to shine a light on all roles in the distilling industry and the women working tirelessly in them. 5. Interviews Leading on from our social media revamp, we also launched an interviewing category in which women in any role in the distilling industry can fill out a few questions and then be featured on our website and our socials. Personally, we love hearing all of your stories and what led you to the place that you are at today, so we thought .. if we love it, then so would everyone else! And so, the interviews were born. Our favourite part about these interviews is that it doesn't matter if you're a distiller, owner, sales representative, marketer or anything in between - each role is just as important as the next, we just want to know your goals, aspirations and why you love Aussie spirits so much. 6. International Women's Day at Bloodwood in Newtown International Women's Day was hosted by Bloodwood in Newtown, as it is annually, alongside Women in Hospitality. The featured speakers of the day were: Susannah Robinson - Distiller at Cape Byron Distillery, NSW Sam Stefani - Distiller at Banks & Solander Distillery, NSW Jenna Hemsworth - Grainshaker, VIC Nicole Durdin - Distiller & Owner at Seppeltsfield Road Distillers, SA Kathleen Davies - Founder of Nip of Courage & Women of Australian Distilling, NSW So, what has everyone else been up to then? Holly Klintworth becomes president of the Australian Distillers Association We, of course, have to recognise Holly Klintworth and her new role as president of the Australian Distillers Association, and the first female president might we add! Affinity Gin and Moriearned a Double-Gold ouble-Gold uble-Gold ble-Gold le-Gold e-Gold -Gold Gold old ld d ith a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration, Holly began her career in the liquor industry as a cellar door assistant manager and communications assistant. Holly followed in the footsteps of her late father, Wayne, when she joined the family business, Bass & Flinders Distillery, full-time in 2016. She began as a sales and marketing manager and moved up to the director and head distiller position which she has been in for 6 years. Holly also served 6 years on the Australian Distillers Association committee before becoming president. a Ally Ayres from Karu Distillery Ally and Karu Distillery earnt a magnitude of awards this year including: Shortlisted for IWSC 2022 Emerging Talent in Spirits. Their Morita Chipotle Vodka won an innovation award Affinity Gin & Morita earned a Double-Gold Navy Strength Lightning Gin received a Gold medal 2022 also brought Outcask Rum to their range which is a project Ally worked very closely with for 4 years Kim Richardson from Mates Gin Distillery Kim and the team at Mates Gin had an incredible first year: Created and delivered a founding members gin Finished bottling their first 2 stand-alone gins: Zesty Mates and Miners Pick. Joey Tai from Anther Spirits Distiller, Joey developed her very own gin with Anther Spirits! The Moon Cake Gin launched this year, Joey's first gin pays tribute to both her life in Hong Kong and her life here in Australia! The release is super limited, only 300 bottles were made! Genevieve Sullivan from Penni Ave Distillery Gen and the Penni Ave team's vodka won a pretty great award! Their Wattleseed & Burnt Honey Vodka won "best vodka" at the Australian distilled spirits awards! Rosemary Beale from Black Snake Distillery Rosemary, along with her husband Stephen opened a bar at their distillery. Black Snake Distillery makes some pretty amazing agave and gins which they'll be serving up, but make sure that you reserve your seat through their website first! Lisa Truscott from Archie Rose Distilling Co. Lisa was featured in Whisky Mag as part of the Archie Rose Distillery focus. The article discusses Lisa's role at Archie Rose and we get to hear from Lisa about the process of creating and developing their whiskies. Rebekah Wilson from The Packing Shed Distilling Co. Rebekah from The Packing Shed Distilling Co. has shared the award that they won this year after opening their distillery in 2021. Their limoncello won best alternative spirit at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards. Jane Baker from Mrs Baker's Still House Mrs Baker's Still House won the 2022 National Electrical Contractors Association award. Their distillery is 100% solar powered and they felt that being a regional based distillery, this was their only option because they love this planet.

We put a call-out to the women in Australian distilling to give us an insight into who they are, and why they chose this industry, here’s some of their responses! BEC ZAMMIT Owner & Distiller at Narrow Tracks Distilling, QLD HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY? 1-3 years WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN THE INDUSTRY? "My partner and I are avid travellers and most of our spare time is spent finding new and exciting places to eat and drink. I love exploring new places and flavour creations and having the ability to create new and exciting spirits and liqueurs really appealed to me!" YOUR MOST PROUD MOMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY? "Winning a double gold medal at the 2022 San Fransisco World Spirits Competition for our Dog Days gin. Winning such a prestigious award in our first year of trade blew my mind. It really cemented the fact that we are creating spirits that stand up on the world stage and helped me overcome the ever present imposter syndrome." WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND TO BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN THE INDUSTRY? "Getting our product out into the wider community. We have amazing support from our locals but the competition in Australia is fierce (which I am super proud of!). Marketing and distribution are areas I'm really new to." WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE THAT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT AUSSIE CRAFT SPIRITS? "Be brave and try something new! Steer clear of the mass marketed products and support your local distilleries, you'll often find something exceptional." WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF? "Everything you do in life helps you later on, one way or another."

We put a call-out to the women in Australian distilling to give us an insight into who they are, and why they chose this industry, here’s some of their responses! MICAELA MANSFIELD Drinks Specialist at Granddad Jack's Craft Distillery ,QLD HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY? 4-7 years WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN THE INDUSTRY? "I worked in Hospitality for the past 10 years and I was looking for a bigger challenge and a different environment, inside the same industry. Working behind the bar serving drinks is so much fun, but after a few years, you just want more challenges and a different scene. I've always been interested in the variety of spirits available in the market and when I got the chance to apply for a job at Granddad Jack's, I didn't hesitate to take the first step into a whole new journey in my working career." YOUR MOST PROUD MOMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY? "The proudest moment that led to challenge me to be doing what I am doing today, was getting my own limited release after my first year anniversary working at Granddad Jack's and winning the Silver medal at the Tasting Australian Spirit Awards in the category of New Make Unaged Spirits with my Moonshine. I was totally shocked I came up with an award winning idea, and that impulsed me to start discovering a new phase inside my career on making drinks; my range went from experimenting with flavours to create cocktails, to a whole new (entry) level in the spirits industry and working at a distillery like Granddad Jack's where they gave me such freedom to discover this new aspect of me was key and a very proud turning point. Now I produce limited releases and work on recipe development and I'm so stoked about it!" ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU'VE FOUND IN THE INDUSTRY? "Working at a family owned small craft distillery, I realized everything is quite challenging, in every single aspect. Having the funds to produce high quality unique spirits, promoting yourself out there in a very competitive market, finding ways to distribute your products without losing yourself in the system, and the list goes on forever! But I always stick to my motto as a good everyday challenge that drives me to achieve excellence in anything I do: Promote a unique spirit, directly to the people, with a good story behind, because we work too damn hard at the distillery for our spirits to be lost in the ocean of infinite spirits and offers and even though it's super challenging, it is as well super rewarding to see people choose what you produce for them because they love the story we tell as much as we do." WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE THAT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT AUSSIE CRAFT SPIRITS? "To get onto them right now! I love the fact that the craft spirits industry in Australia is getting so spread out around every inch of this land. Every single one of us is making something different for every palate out there and the quality of Australian Craft Spirits is outstanding and has nothing to envy on the traditional countries with established distilleries for centuries. Aussie spirits are super innovative, unique and eccentric (there's super cool takes on whiskey and even Vegemite Moonshines and Lamington Vodkas! How cool is that!). There's surely a craft distillery out there for every single person, including the most traditional drinkers, so start searching and supporting local and craft!" WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF? "'You've done really well! I'm proud of you!' I'm from Argentina, and as a wild adventurer I decided to take a leap of faith and move to Australia to see what could happened. Finished uni, booked a one way ticket and 9 years later here I am! Totally different life than what I'd planned when I was a child, not working on the career path I thought I would be, happily married with a kid and another one on the way, and with a huge adopted family with where I work and they have treated me like family since day one. So yes, I'm pretty proud of having taken the first step into a whole new level of unexpected but totally rewarding life!" WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT US TO KNOW? "I just want to encourage other people, especially women, to get out there and be confident in who you are and your worth. I know there's a lot of talk around this topic through Instagram influencers and social media, but sometimes the actual message gets lost in real life. I am a normal woman from overseas that took a chance in another country and was rewarded with really good things happening in my life. But it took a lot of hard work, tears, resilience and faith in myself, so that I can achieve whatever I want if I put the work into it. I'm nowhere near finished yet, but I wish this message can encourage other women in pursuing their dreams and aspirations, especially in an industry that is so male dominant." WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION IN YOUR CAREER? "Many people helped shape who I am today, but I'd say Luke Ridden, my boss at Granddad Jack's is the biggest inspiration so far. He's the hardest working young dude that I've ever met and he leads by example all the time. He taught me to work hard and you can achieve your goals, pushed me to my limits to show me I have no limits, you just create them yourself in your mind. But most importantly, he gave me his trust and the freedom to expand my knowledge, to experiment new ways to make his business grow, and is always helping me get one step closer to my goals. So yeah, quite proud, lucky and happy to be working with my mentor at the moment."

Say hello to the Australian Distillers Association's first female President: Holly Klintworth from Bass & Flinders Distillery! Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration, Holly began her career in the liquor industry as a cellar door assistant manager and communications assistant. Holly followed in the footsteps of her late father, Wayne, when she joined the family business, Bass & Flinders Distillery, full-time in 2016. She began as a sales and marketing manager and moved up to the director and head distiller position which she has been in for 6 years. Holly also served 6 years on the Australian Distillers Association committee before becoming president. Holly is passionate about all things Australian craft spirits and has hopes for the future that Aussies will begin choosing local spirits over the international guys. A second generation distiller and now the President of the Australian Distillers Association, join us in raising a glass to Holly and all of her achievements.

We put a call-out to the women in Australian distilling to give us an insight into who they are, and why they chose this industry, here’s some of their responses! Ally ayres Owner & Distiller at Karu Distillery, NSW HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY? 4-7 years WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN THE INDUSTRY? "The combination of science and flavour was what sparked my interest most. Being able to create from scratch and be a part of it from creation to bottle and watching it being enjoyed." YOUR MOST PROUD MOMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY? "Being top 5 "Emerging Talents" in IWSC 2022 was a personal achievement for me that i was so thrilled about. Winning 2021 best contemporary gin in the world and being the 2nd Australian to win that ever was THE proudest moment in my LIFE." WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND TO BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN THE INDUSTRY? "I found at the start being taken seriously was a big challenge. People outside didn't think i had anything to do with production which was stressful and heart breaking and they would talk over or around me. Imposter syndrome is real and a huge challenge, feeling like a joke and not feeling like it's enough despite your earned achievements. Now i am facing a new challenge in womanhood and in my career field: balancing having a child, continuing my career when i cannot taste or smell alcohol, trusting myself to teach someone else my skill set and to let it go to a certain degree. That is HARD." WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE THAT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT AUSSIE CRAFT SPIRITS? "It's a lot more than adding liquid to a bottle and selling it. If you work for the smaller side of the industry you are EVERYTHING in your company, from the start to the end and it's a lot but you can do it if you truly mean it." WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF? I'd definitely tell my younger self to conserve some energy haha, you're gonna need it. Don't focus on what everyone else is doing, concentrate on doing the best you can do and you will do great things. Trust yourself. WHAT IS YOUR PARTY TRICK? I can one hand clap. It's what got me my last job .. haha

We put a call-out to the women in Australian distilling to give us an insight into who they are, and why they chose this industry, here’s some of their responses! KERI ALGAR Founder & Head Distiller at Cabarita Spirts, NSW HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY? 1-3 years YOUR MOST PROUD MOMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY? "Simply having managed to arrive to where I am today, slowly but surely growing my business." WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND TO BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE INDUSTRY? "The economical procurement of goods for a small business without the scale of other companies, from packaging to cleaning supplies." WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE THAT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT AUSSIE CRAFT SPIRITS? "A genuinely handcrafted spirit is far, far superior. Try it." WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN THE INDUSTRY? "The dream of a rum bar in the islands." WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD WANT TO TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF? "Try to be true to yourself and stay humble. But also, don't change a thing."

We put a call-out to the women in Australian distilling to give us an insight into who they are, and why they chose this industry, here’s some of their responses! ED SVEHLA Owner at Banks & Solander, NSW HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY? 1-3 years WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN THE INDUSTRY? "My husband decided he was bored at his old job and wanted a hobby! One thing led to another .. I now love this industry!" YOUR MOST PROUD MOMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY? "I am so very proud (almost to bursting) of how far we have come in just 3 years (this month) for such a small team of 3! And some of the awards we have received: Silver - San Francisco, Silver - London, Gold - European Spirits challenge" WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE THAT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT AUSSIE CRAFT SPIRITS? "Aussie craft Spirits are amazing- we have innovation and passionate people making spirits that they love. So many different types and styles- so much flavour - support us not overseas companies. You buy Aussie wine before international- why not buy Aussie spirits the same way?" WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF? "Man! Is your life going to change!!!! (Super strict Christian upbringing where we were not allowed to drink alcohol) It’s not always easy, sometimes it’s hard but life is good. (Oh and hug Dad while you can..)" WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT US TO KNOW? "While I didn’t decide to join this industry, I love it and would not want to be anywhere else! I’ve learnt so much. I love the other distillery people and I’m eager to learn more..."

We put a call-out to the women in Australian distilling to give us an insight into who they are, and why they chose this industry, here’s some of their responses! Marni Gordon Cellar Hand & Wholesale Manager at Baker Williams Distillery, NSW HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY? 1-3 years YOUR MOST PROUD MOMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY? "Meeting with bar managers and getting our products in front of cool new people." WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND TO BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE INDUSTRY? "Managing my work and parenting." WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE THAT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT AUSSIE CRAFT SPIRITS? "There is something for everyone out there!" WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN THE INDUSTRY? "A fascination with gin and locally distilled products." WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD WANT TO TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF? "Give yourself space and compassion and allow yourself time to explore the tiny spark that grew into a fascination."

We put a call-out to the women in Australian distilling to give us an insight into who they are, and why they chose this industry, here’s some of their responses! NEDDY BEDWELL Owner, Director & Distiller at Distil on the Hill, QLD HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY? 1-3 years YOUR MOST PROUD MOMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY? "Winning a double gold at San Fransisco for our Mandarin gin in our first year on the market and being asked to be on the judging panel at the World Gin Awards." WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND TO BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE INDUSTRY? "Brand awareness and social media probably, we are lucky to have family that have been in the industry for years to call upon when we need." WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE THAT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT AUSSIE CRAFT SPIRITS? "There are so many quality spirits and distilleries creating new and exciting things! Get amongst it." WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT US TO KNOW? "I love the women of distilling pages, it’s such a male dominated industry and I love that we can support each other." NEDDY'S PARTY TRICK/SPECIAL TALENT ... "I do juggle a lot. I have 2 kids. Fifo husband, running a business, distilling, social media, marketing, sales etc so time management is key"

We put a call-out to the women in Australian distilling to give us an insight into who they are, and why they chose this industry, here’s some of their responses! EMMA GILLIGAN Owner & Business Manager at Derwent Distillery, TAS HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY? 8-12 years WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN THE INDUSTRY? "An opportunity to work in an exciting and up and coming industry sparked my interest. I found the art of distilling fascinating as I’d dabbled in it during my studies as a Naturopath many years ago. I finally found an industry which drew on all of my skills blending botanicals, marketing, sales and even customer service!" YOUR MOST PROUD MOMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY? - Launching Redlands Distillery - Managing and hosting one of Australia's first world whisky day events - Highly commended in the Icons of Australian Whisky Awards - Turning on the stills at Derwent Distillery WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND TO BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE INDUSTRY? "Finding constraint information from local and state government regarding building regulations. No one seems to be taking responsibility for keeping up with the growth of the industry and how we can develop our businesses safely." WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE THAT KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT AUSSIE CRAFT SPIRITS? "There’s something for everyone and the joy you feel when you purchase from small business, knowing your dollars are going straight back into the local economy is also a bonus!" EMMA'S PARTY TRICK/SPECIAL TALENT ... "Ask anyone and they’ll tell you I’m obsessed with dogs. I love searching the adoption centre pages and finding the perfect dogs for my friends. I like to think of it like being dog Cupid!"

The Shout’s Industry Women Spotlight Series Click here or on the image for the full story.

The Shout’s Industry Women Spotlight Series Click here or on the image for the full story.