Our Story | Australian Distilling Co.

GIN AND TONICS sipped
at a bar in a Melbourne
laneway

A martini shared on
a balcony overlooking
Bondi beach

negronis enjoyed
against the backdrop
of an Adelaide vineyard

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Australian
Distilling Co.
celebrates the
experiences that
make this country
so remarkable

Australian
Distilling Co.
celebrates the
experiences that
make this country
so remarkable

Our Story Image 2

Capturing the heart and soul

of what makes Australian life so vibrant and diverse is foundational to our entire range. We distil the very essence of contemporary Australian life, and whilst our roots are traditional, our approach is not.

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Inspired by the here and now

Founder Michael Hickinbotham continues his family’s legacy of championing an ideal; that beautifully crafted products connect us to the distinctive, inimitable parts of this country. And that together, they’re what makes Australia’s spirit so extraordinary.

Inspired by the here and now

Founder Michael Hickinbotham continues his family’s legacy of championing an ideal; that beautifully crafted products connect us to the distinctive, inimitable parts of this country. And that together, they’re what makes Australia’s spirit so extraordinary.

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spirit of australia

Our founding vision is centered on creating a portfolio of world class spirits that celebrate and connect with the uniquely Australian way of life. Through championing local ingredients and iconic locales we ensure that every bottle says something about the community that inspired it.

CRAFT

Whilst our roots are traditional, our approach is not. Every spirit Australian Distilling Co. produces is a homage to the beautiful cities and regions of Australia. By distilling in locations throughout Australia we ensure that each expression we create is an authentic articulation of something that is both beautifully crafted and uniquely Australian.

 

A Rich Heritage And
An Even Brighter Future

 
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AUSTRALIAN DISTILLING CO’S FOREFATHER, ALAN ROBB HICKINBOTHAM, WAS A GIFTED CHEMIST WHO DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION BEGAN A JOURNEY TO FULFILL HIS PASSION FOR CRAFTING REFINED WINE AND SPIRITS. HIS DNA REMAINS WITH US TO THIS DAY.

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IN 1936, ALAN ROBB ESTABLISHED THE COUNTRY’S, AND ONE OF THE WORLD’S, FIRST UNIVERSITY DEGREES DEDICATED TO OENOLOGY AND VITACULTURE AT THE ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY, ROSEWORTHY CAMPUS.

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TWO WINE-MAKING GENERATIONS LATER, MICHAEL HICKINBOTHAM, ALAN ROBB’S GRANDSON, ESTABLISHES AUSTRALIAN DISTILLING CO. DRAWING UPON HIS FAMILY'S ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT, WITH A DESIRE TO CREATE SPIRITS OF EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY THAT CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF AUSTRALIA,

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MICHAEL’S UNWAIVERING COMMITMENT TO CREATING SPIRITS OF EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY LEADS HIM TO SEEK OUT THE BEST MINDS IN DISTILLATION. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE, HE FINDS A KINDRED SPIRIT WHO SHARES THIS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN DR GRAHAM JONES. RENOWNED AUSTRALIA WIDE FOR HIS MIX OF TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND CREATIVITY.

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FROM THE HICKINBOTHAM FAMILY’S INQUISITIVE SPIRIT AND THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE, TO OUR DISTILLERIES AUSTRALIA WIDE, THE AUSTRALIAN DISTILLING CO. FAMILY IS DEDICATED TO THE SAME THING: MAKING EXCEPTIONAL SPIRITS. EVERY BOTTLE A UNIQUE STORY WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED.

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A DESIRE TO GROW AND PROSPER, COUPLED WITH AN ENDURING WILL HAS SEEN THE EXPANSION OF AUSTRALIAN DISTILLING CO. WE ARE EXCITED BY OUR FUTURE AS A PREMIUM SPIRITS COMPANY WORKING HARD TO BRING THE VERY BEST AUSTRALIAN SPIRITS TO THE WORLD.