Spirits CBR workshops will take place at the Canberra and Region Visitor Information Centre. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Spirit lovers in Canberra have a new way to meet the makers through a new initiative aimed at celebrating the craft distilling industry in our region. Spirits CBR is a new network of distillers from ACT and beyond, spanning from the Snowy Mountains to the South Coast.
Underground Spirits CEO and Secretary of NSW & ACT Distillers, Claudia Roughley, hopes that Spirits CBR will strengthen local industry growth under one voice.
“Our distillers come from every corner of the region, and really represent what makes spirits special,” she said at the Spirits CBR launch.
“It’s about giving locals and visitors alike a way to discover and engage with distilleries.”
Spirits CBR’s pilot program is a series of workshops run over eight weeks in collaboration with Visit Canberra, the Canberra and Region Visitor Information Centre and NSW & ACT Distillers Association.
Foxdog Distillery’s event focused on pairing spirits with different types of tonic. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Participating distilleries include Wee Jasper Distillery (run by mother and daughter duo Jennie and Shannon Kellett), Braidwood’s Hold Fast Distillery, Wild Brumby Distillery, and Foxdog Distillery in Mogo.
One of Canberra’s youngest distilling businesses launched its newly-bottled range of spirits at the SpiritsCBR launch event.
Everyday Legacy Distillery is run by Renee Newton and David Woodruff in Queanbeyan. Their Australian Dry Gin is perfect with tonic, offering a balanced mix of native and traditional botanicals. The Honey Gin is floral and fragrant, with just a hint of sweetness, and their Coffee Liquor tastes like tiramisu in a glass.
They will be running creative tasting workshops with an artistic element, combining Renee’s art teaching background with their spirits.
David Woodruff and Renee Newton have recently launched their range of spirits at Everyday Legacy Distillery. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Nine Circles Distillery, run by Ben Coathup, Cat Coathup, and Jason Ball, has recently opened its doors in Pambula.
Ben told Region that he started his distilling journey with the dream of making his very own whisky, but branched out into gins while the passion project aged in barrels.
He finally tasted the results six months ago and says the feeling of holding a bottle of his own whiskey was as good as he expected.
“I probably shouldn’t say this, but it felt as good as when my children were born, and the whisky took a lot longer to make!”
Nine Circles workshop is titled From Coast to Capital, and will feature Pambula oysters paired with Nine Circles spirits.
Ben Coathup with his ‘other’ baby, Nine Circles Distillery whisky. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
As the Spirits CBR initiative grows beyond this eight-week pilot program, there are plans to expand distillery door tourism in the area and support the local industry in its growth and development.
“We have seen firsthand how visitors connect with local spirits. They want to know who made it, where it is from, and the story behind it. Spirits CBR gives us a shared platform to celebrate all of that,” said Claudia.
“This is only the beginning. We are creating something that will grow to include more distilleries, more experiences and more reasons to discover local spirits across our region.”
Find out more about the eight-week program of tastings and workshops at Visit Canberra.
