Wine lover? Craft beer fan? Drink whisky, bourbon, cognac or rum? Or maybe it's gin or vodka or mezcal you're into? Based in Australia, but globally minded, Drinks Adventures covers all these drinks and more: Japanese sake, cider, tequila, champagne, cocktails... we could go on! Listen in as award-winning drinks writer James Atkinson interviews the world's biggest names in craft brewing, winemaking, distilling and mixology, along with sommeliers, mixologists, sake samurais, masters of wine and certified cicerones.
Tags: wine, beer, brewing, gin, whisky, whiskey. bourbon, cognac, rum, tequila, mezcal, champagne, cocktails, cider, Japanese sake
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Diageo Australia's MD, Dan Hamilton, shares insights on navigating a challenging market marked by high spirits tax and cost-of-living pressures. He highlights Australia's unique role as a testing ground for global innovations, such as Johnnie Walker Black Ruby, and the pioneering history of premix drinks. The conversation also delves into the success of Japanese whiskey, the need for excise reform to support local distillers, the booming tequila category, and future trends in the vibrant Australian drinks industry.
Posca Hydrate is a sparkling, sugar-free prebiotic drink combining electrolytes and antioxidant-rich red wine vinegar, offering superior hydration and gut health benefits, drawing inspiration from a 2000-year-old Roman army elixir. Co-founders Merrick Watts and Ed Stening share their journey from discovering the ancient recipe during lockdown to developing a unique product, overcoming funding challenges, and securing strategic partnerships for market expansion. They highlight the drink's multi-occasion appeal, unforeseen scientific benefits, and ambitious plans for global growth.
Matt Hobson of Nil Desperandum Rum returns to discuss the contentious issue of Australian rum labelling laws. He highlights the historical standards from 1906 but points out the lack of enforcement, leading to widespread misleading claims about product age and origin. The conversation explores the tension between fostering innovation and maintaining strict definitions, particularly regarding unaged white rum and the misuse of international terms like "Rhum Agricole." Hobson advocates for a "Spirits Australia" body to establish clear, enforceable standards and protect the industry's integrity.
In this episode we’re joined by Chris Kelly of Australia’s first mobile canning provider, East Coast Canning . Chris founded the business in 2016 to provide small breweries with access to professional-grade packaging without them needing to invest in expensive canning lines of their own. Nine years on, East Coast Canning has a fleet of four mobile canning trucks and a static packaging facility in Melbourne that together have filled more than 33 million cans for customers on Australia’s eastern s...
We’re joined this episode by Emilia Fazzalari and Quentin Job of Cincoro Tequila . Cincoro is the ultra-premium tequila brand launched in 2019 by a group of NBA club owners including the legendary Michael Jordan, who it turns out is also a tequila aficionado. Also in the founding group are Emilia – the company’s executive chairperson who we’re speaking to today; her husband Wyc Grousbeck – owner of the Boston Celtics; and fellow basketball figures Jeanie Buss and Wes Edens. Our other guest today...
We're joined this episode by Guinness global brand ambassador Padraig Fox. Padraig was recently in Australia as part of Guinness’s sponsorship of the British and Irish Lions rugby tour, which coincides with a massive global resurgence for the brand. And, as you would have heard in my recent interview with Lion bosses James Brindley and Anubha Sahasrabuddhe, Australia has not been immune to the trend. In fact, Lion sold about 2 million litres of Guinness during the recent tour, when there were 26...
Award-winning beer writer Guy Southern delves into Western Australia's dynamic brewing scene, sharing insights from his "Liquid Gold" history project and the early influence of pioneers like Little Creatures. He covers the current health of indie breweries, challenges from venue tap consolidation, and the impact of consumer trends. Southern also highlights exciting new breweries and emphasizes the importance of unique storytelling for the industry's future.
Following a health scare and strategic business shifts, Steve Jeffares is launching Happy Camper in Glen Iris. The venue aims to offer a broader, inclusive hospitality experience beyond traditional beer bars, featuring diverse drinks and a family-friendly atmosphere. This venture addresses market changes like evolving consumer tastes and the need for adaptable brewery models, promising a curated experience for a wide audience.
Historian Luke McCarthy joins the show to discuss his two new books. "Forgotten Spirits" uncovers Victoria's vibrant, often overlooked distilling history, revealing its global scale before federal policies led to its decline. His second book, "St Agnes Distillery: The First 100 Years," chronicles the Angove family's resilience in building Australia's iconic brandy house, exploring their dedication and the future of Australian brandy.
John Slattery, co-founder of Greenbanks Tasmanian Whisky Co., discusses his journey into whisky and the ambitious vision behind Greenbanks. The company aims to make globally competitive Tasmanian whisky through large-scale, efficient production, utilizing an "all grains in" distillation method. Greenbanks plans to elevate the Tasmanian whisky category, offering contract distillation services while also developing its own brands, focusing on unique flavor profiles from diverse Tasmanian grains and innovative oak maturation.
We’re joined this episode by Charlie Echlin and Chico Rosa from Fielden Whisky of England, which has recently launched its range in Australia. Fielden began life in 2017 as The Oxford Artisan Distillery, a company focused predominately on white spirits that it distilled from scratch using historic grain varieties. But it also laid down for maturation small quantities of grain spirit that underpinned its relaunch as Fielden Whisky and relocation to Yorkshire with the target of having 30,000 casks...
Lion's co-leaders, James Brindley and Anubha Sahasrabuddhe, share insights into their unconventional yet highly effective partnership, emphasizing trust and complementary skills. They detail Lion's strategy for growth amidst declining beer volumes, including revitalizing core brands through cultural relevance and expanding into high-growth segments like Ultra Zero Carb beers and RTDs. The discussion also covers industry challenges, the potential of engaging female drinkers, and the future of non-alcoholic options, highlighting Lion's commitment to innovation and meeting evolving consumer needs.
This episode explores Canefields Distillery's innovative journey from a family sugarcane farm to a rum producer. Partnering with Dr. Marlize Becker, they research heirloom sugarcane varieties to understand their unique flavor profiles for distinct rum expressions. The project highlights the potential for Australian single-estate rum and agritourism, emphasizing sugarcane's role in crafting unique spirits.
Sydney Rum Distillery has unveiled its new home in Muswellbrook, planning to become a globally scaled rum and brandy business. With a focus on export, the distillery will produce bulk cane spirit while also developing its own brand portfolio alongside the acquired Cargo Cult brand. The venture has a long-term vision for significant investment, diverse distillation, and strong community engagement.
Fred Siggins is a Melbourne-based spirits writer with more than 20 years of experience in the drinks and hospitality industries. He joins us to discuss what I think is a fairly momentous development. Halliday Wine Companion, the definitive guide to Australian wine for almost 40 years, is expanding its remit to include spirits. Launching in April 2025, Halliday Spirits offers comprehensive reviews and ratings of Australian-made and international spirits, aiming to elevate the industry with the sa...
Welcome to a special news edition of Drinks Adventures as we unpack Lark Distilling’s half yearly results. This time last year, Lark Distilling CEO Satya Sharma joined us on the podcast for a full-length interview , which I strongly recommend you listen to if you haven’t already. Twelve months on and Lark appears to making strong progress against the priorities and objectives that Sash outlined in that episode. The ASX-listed company recently announced net sales of $7.2 million for the half year...
In this episode, veteran beer journalist Matt Kirkegaard discusses his career change, the closure of Brews News, and his unique perspective on the craft beer industry from afar. He analyzes the industry's boom and bust cycle, attributing it to low interest rates and easy capital, and critically examines issues like crowdfunding and the evolving definition of "craft." Despite past disappointments, Matt remains optimistic about craft beer's future, emphasizing its social role and the need for integrity in both brewing and journalism.
Renowned wine writer and champagne specialist Tyson Stelzer joins us in this opening episode of Season 20. Late in 2024, Tyson released the seventh edition of The Champagne Guide , which is 50 per cent bigger than the previous edition, featuring a record 1260 reviews spread across 880 pages adorned with Tyson’s beautiful photographs. The guide features a Hall of Honour ranking the best producers and the best champagnes of the year in all price points, as well as the best blanc de blancs, blanc d...
We last spoke with Chris Hatcher in May 2021, at which time he was still chief winemaker of the legendary Wolf Blass brand. Chris has since retired from Wolf Blass, but it’s not retirement as you or I would know it, because Chris has thrown himself into his own venture, Hatch Wines , which is what we’ll be discussing today. Chris has relished the opportunity to build his small, family-run brand from scratch. And unlike his corporate winemaking days, he is hands on at every stage of the process, ...
We're joined this episode by Elizabeth McCall, master distiller of Woodford Reserve in Kentucky. Elizabeth was not really a whiskey enthusiast when she first joined parent company Brown-Forman in 2009 as a member of the research and development department. But she soon developed a taste for it, becoming a master taster in 2015, before being effectively anointed as successor to the legendary Chris Morris when she was appointed assistant master distiller in 2018. When Elizabeth took the reigns in ...
Haydon Morgan and Damien Ryan are the founders of First Light Brewing Co, a start-up in Wollongong, NSW. You may recall Haydon’s voice from the special documentary episode we did on Australian brewing legend Chuck Hahn a few years ago now. Haydon and Damien are both longstanding residents of the Illawarra region and they met each other while working at Lion, where they realised they had complementary skillsets for setting up a brewery of their own. Haydon finished up with Lion in 2023 as brewery...
Ian Schmidt and Vic Orlow of Tin Shed Distilling share their journey, from an initial venture to establishing their acclaimed Iniquity Whisky brand. They detail their relocation to a spacious new distillery in the Adelaide Hills, highlighting the benefits of the region's climate. The discussion covers their distinct whiskey styles, the unique use of Australian peat, and their vision for the new venue, which will feature extensive hospitality, Texas-style BBQ, and a sophisticated cocktail bar. They also touch on future product releases and community engagement through a whiskey festival.
James Atkinson chats with Matt Hobson (Nil Desperandum) and Duncan Littler (Bundaberg Rum) about the second annual Queensland Rum Day. They delve into the event's origins, the significant growth of Queensland's rum industry, and the historic "Rum Consortium" blend, a collaboration of four major distilleries. The discussion also covers the unique house styles of the participating brands, the global rum renaissance, and the exciting future of Australian rum, emphasizing premiumization and cocktail culture.
This episode explores the critical challenges facing the Australian wine industry, including an aging consumer base and fierce competition from beer, spirits, and premixes that appeal more to younger generations. Experts and maverick producers discuss the need to drastically innovate packaging, liquid, and marketing strategies, moving away from traditional conventions to create more accessible, less intimidating, and food-friendly wines for modern consumers. They highlight successful examples of breaking norms, such as flavored spritzes and direct consumer engagement, despite industry resistance.
Daniel Motlop details Seven Seasons Spirits' return to 80% family ownership, now partnered with Pure Asset Management and Amber Beverage Australia for distribution. The episode explores how this new structure provides freedom for brand expansion, including enhanced on-premise presence, new product innovations like a unique whiskey, and plans for a cultural brand home in Darwin. It emphasizes the brand's commitment to indigenous traditions, native ingredients, and authentic storytelling.
Nelson Hernandez is master distiller at Venezuela’s Diplomatico Rum, where he has worked for an incredible 38 years. After studying mechanical engineering, Nelson initially worked in the oil industry before taking a job in 1986 as Maintenance and Project Manager at the Diplomatico distillery. Working alongside rum master Tito Cordero, Nelson learnt the craft of rum production the Diplomatico way, which means applying the highest quality standards at every step of the rum-making process from the ...
James Bruce recounts StrangeLove's improbable rise, starting from a "wellness for degenerates" concept in Byron Bay that evolved into an "undrinkable" ginger beer. He discusses the challenges of bootstrapping, securing early distribution, and navigating a skeptical market to find their niche in adult soft drinks and premium mixers. The episode also details their eventual acquisition by Asahi Beverages, highlighting the strategic alignment and the ongoing adaptation within a large corporate structure, with plans for a future foray into alcoholic beverages.
Michael Fragos is chief winemaker and general manager at McLaren Vale winery Chapel Hill, which this year celebrated its 50th vintage. Michael has been with the company for the last 21 of those vintages. So, in this special episode of Drinks Adventures – produced in partnership with Chapel Hill – he shares his insights on the winery’s evolution and the attention to detail that defines its winemaking process. This meticulous approach has this year inspired the release of a new flagship wine, The ...
This episode explores the Australian spirits industry's ambition to become a $1 billion export powerhouse by 2035. It delves into challenges like international brand awareness, the uniqueness of Australian ingredients and innovation, and the crucial need for government support, similar to that provided to the wine industry. Key discussions include high spirits taxes hindering investment, the importance of establishing clear product standards, and the proposal for a "Spirits Australia" body to collectively promote Australian spirits globally and unlock immense export potential.
We're joined this episode by Wade Rushton-Clarke, chief executive officer, Australia and New Zealand at keg rental company Konvoy Kegs . The issue of lost and stolen kegs has long plagued brewers in Australia. But you may have seen earlier this year, a spike in instances of large-scale keg theft by opportunists who were then flogging the empty kegs off as scrap metal. This unscrupulous practice is very financially damaging for brewers who have a lot of money tied up in kegs, which they must be a...
