Taking the Sunshine Coast by its ice cubes, Noosa Heads Distillery has a premium range of craft distillery spirits created using local ingredients.
Where is Noosa Heads Distillery?
The naughty younger sister to Land & Sea Brewery, Noosa Heads Distillery sits alongside with a shared entrance. So, drag yourself away from the beer bar with its high-level motorcycles and head around the back for a local gin, white malt or vodka.
The people behind the label are an interesting bunch. Head Distiller Jackson Boyd has worked as a chef at many of Noosa’s favourite eateries (Ricky’s, Bistro C, Woodfire Grill and Gaston) and in London. He brings this flair for food to his distillery studies and experience and has been involved in the Noosa Heads Distillery since inception.
For Brand Creator Tim Crabtree the question of what he is going to do when he finally grows up has been answered. Seduced by Noosa’s surf and beach lifestyle, Tim is the force behind Land & Sea Brewery adding sophistication and a touch of bravado with Noosa Heads Distillery.
Inside Noosa Heads Distillery
Don’t forget to look up in this bar. Taking prime position behind the bar is the distillery’s 200-litre copper pot reflux still. It weighs in at a hefty 3.75 tonnes and produces all the Fortune fine spirits.
They are a little bit in love with this still, which is one of the largest in Australia, at Noosa Heads Distillery and in awe of its diverse capabilities with each column different from the other.
The unique flavour profile of Fortune spirits comes via traditional distilling methods where the gin is bathed and boiled, similar to a London Dry.
It is all hand bottled, hand labelled and definitely a labour of love.
Noosa Heads Distillery spirits
Fortune Flavours the Brave is the motto at this distillery, and they certainly have gone all out to create their range of spirits. The concept is to create spirts with classic cocktails in mind but with their own personality.
Three spirits have been released so far, and I tasted them all. My favourite was the Signature Dry Gin which has hints of honeydew melon, cassia, green tea, lemon peel, lavender, coriander, lemongrass and juniper.
It was served as their signature drink – one part gin to two parts Fever Tree tonic dry gin with a light tonic with a slice of honeydew melon.
Fortune White Malt
Distilled from single origin malt, this spirit has a soft caramel chew, a clean light malt aroma and dried fruit sensation.
The white malt is aged in Barossa Valley red wine casks giving an end result similar to an un-aged whisky. There are plans to further age the spirit too.
Fortune Vodka
Made using only Australian grown wheat and Noosa water filtered through ceramic and carbon, the Fortune Vodka has a crisp pear and subtle coconut profile. The coconut comes through a post-blending final filtration through coconut charcoal.
Getting to Noosa Heads Distillery
Find Noosa Heads Distillery at 19 Venture Drive, Noosaville next to Land and Sea Brewery. It is open Friday from 5 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 1 pm until late. While you are in Noosa, try these excellent restaurants and eat Noosa like a local.
Disclaimer:
Ed+bK was a guest of Tourism Noosa and Noosa Food & Wine.
Due to an unfortunate incident with whisky in my youth, otherwise known as ‘that night’, I usually steer clear of this spirit so I don’t claim to be an expert. However, the white malt was an intriguing flavour and it could change my mind about whisky. 🙂
I’d love to try the gin, don’t think the honeydew would suit me though, but plenty of other flavours to love. The white malt sounds VERY interesting.