Enter the world of Ladies of Spirit and meet talented women producing amazing spirits across Australia
Are you a passionate consumer of craft spirits? You're invited to enter the world of Ladies of Spirit to explore the talented women, producing amazing gins across Australia. Historically, women were skilled in botany, fermenting and distilling for medicinal purposes and drinking. Join us on board the docked Edwardian Steam Yacht Ena for a fabulous and fascinating delve into the world of gin.
Taste a selection of different gins every week with matching canapés. Meet and learn about the challenges and rewards from leading female distillers. Limited tickets available for each session, book now.
Presented in association with Nip of Courage.
Ally Ayres – Karu Distillery
Ally is the head distiller and co-owner of independently owned and operated Karu Distillery, hidden in the Devils Wilderness NSW. Sharing her workspace with some of the world's deadliest, cuddliest and creepiest creatures and surrounded by nothing but Australian bushland keeps her inspired and on her toes.
Her primary focus has been composing gins using fresh, locally grown and sourced botanicals, however her love of rum has stolen the focus with an estimated release in 2023. Throughout the years of her self-taught distillation journey she has accumulated over 50 global awards including IWSC trophy for best contemporary gin in the world 2021.
17 December 2021
| Speaker | Gin 1 | Gin 2 | Gin 3 | Gin 4 |
| Ally – Karu Distillery | Karu Lightning Gin | Karu Affinity Gin | Stone Pine Rhubarb Gin | Timboon Ruby Seven Gin |
Holly Klintworth - Bass and Flinders
Holly is one of few second generation distillers in Australia, having taken over from her father in 2016 to lead her family business as Managing Director and Head Distiller.
Bass & Flinders Distillery, established in 2009 on the Mornington Peninsula is an artisanal distillery with a focus is on distilling in small batches, merging old world traditional techniques with new world flavours and ingredients, sourcing fresh, local ingredients wherever possible to produce unique, genuine Australian craft spirits. Bass & Flinders draws inspiration from their coastal home where the sea meets the wine-growing hinterland.
Proudly family operated and 100% independent, uniquely, Bass and Flinders distils Victorian wine into their grape based eau de vie spirit, used across their range of products. Bass & Flinders Distillery is dedicated to the true art of distilling, by choosing to produce their base spirit from scratch. They value full traceability of each ingredient that goes into every bottle, take ownership over the entire process from start to finish, and celebrate the added complexity their grape spirit adds to their products. Bass & Flinders creates a range of award winning fine brandies, gins and liqueurs, made at their purpose built facility in Dromana.
14 January 2022
| Speaker | Gin 1 | Gin 2 | Gin 3 | Gin 4 |
| Holly - Bass & Flinders | Ester Strong Gin | Tara Pot Still Gin | Tara Pot Still Gin | Monsoon |
Carla Daunton – Young Henry’s
Carla started her journey into spirits as a science communicator and teacher before making the change to brewing and distilling. Her first role in the field was at an ethanol production facility where she learnt the fine art of plant operation as well as gaining a solid grounding in producing high quality neutral spirits. Interested in both brewing and distilling, Carla started at Young Henrys as a brewer in April of 2018 and quickly found her feet amongst the yeast. That previous experience in distilling came in handy when she took over distilling Young Henrys beloved Noble Cut a year later.
Since taking on the head distiller role Carla has overseen the gin production rapidly expand culminating in the release of Young Henrys first ever RTD in November of 2021.
Young Henrys began brewing in 2012 and started distilling gin in 2015, fiercely independent with strong values encompassing their motto "Serve the people" Young Henrys continue to be driven by innovation and excellence while serving the community, arts and the planet.
21 January 2022
| Speaker | Gin 1 | Gin 2 | Gin 3 | Gin 4 |
| Carla - Young Henry’s | Young Henry’s Noble Cut Gin | Young Henry’s Newtown Strength Gin | Manly Spirits Pink Gin | KIS Whisky Barrel Gin |
Samantha Stefani - Banks and Solander
Hailing from Southern Pennsylvania, Samantha started working at her first brewery in the U.S at 19, 2 years before she could legally try what she had made.
She then attained a BS in Fermentation Sciences with a Concentration in Brewing Science & Analysis and Minor in Chemistry at Appalachian State University, NC.
She moved to Sydney in 2016 and started working at Archie Rose as an Assistant Distiller. As Archie Rose's first female distiller, she quickly moved up the ladder and became a Senior Distiller.
In 2019, Samantha got the opportunity to learn how to make rum and work as the first female distiller at Brix Distillery.
Samantha has most recently joined the team at Banks & Solander Distillery in Botany after the first lockdown of 2020. Banks & Solander is owned and operated by husband and wife team Marty and Ed Svehla, and their faithful distillery dog Frank. Samantha's main passion has always been in distilling Rum and Gin, and she counts herself fortunate to have learned a lot in the art of making all kinds of spirits and having the opportunity to be involved with all aspects of a small business with the Banks & Solander team.
28 January 2022
| Speaker | Gin 1 | Gin 2 | Gin 3 | Gin 4 |
| Samantha – Banks & Solander | 23rd Street Navy Strength Gin | Stone Pine Lemon Drop | Banks & Solander Endeavour Gin | Banks & Solander Signature Gin |
Alarna Doherty - Tara Distiller
Nestled in the heart of the stunning and pristine Shoalhaven region of NSW, Tara Distillery is situated on the windswept south coast, between the white sand beaches of Jervis Bay and the remote wilderness of the Morton National Park.
A few short years ago Alarna Doherty was living the classic city life, holding down a successful career in the corporate sector but Alarna harboured a secret desire – to make her own premium craft spirits.
Alarna dreamed of a family life in the country making her own high quality gin and whiskey.
Together with husband Ben they started their small rural distillery in the Shoalhaven on the South Coast of NSW. They use the traditional one-shot gin method, and are passionate about this true pot-still style of gin making.
4 February 2022
| Speaker | Gin 1 | Gin 2 | Gin 3 | Gin 4 |
| Alarna – Tara Distiller | Prohibition Navy Strength | Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz | Tara Pot Still Gin | Stone Pine Dry Gin |
Lisa Truscott - Archie Rose Distilling Co
Lisa Truscott was Australia’s youngest female head distiller during her time at Old Kempton Distillery in Tasmania, and before that, she was the visitor experience manager at Summerhall Distillery in Scotland, where Lisa was awarded the Best Visitor Attraction in Edinburgh. These days you can find Lisa distilling at Archie Rose Distilling Co. where she distils everything from Gin to Whisky.
18 February 2022
| Speaker | Gin 1 | Gin 2 | Gin 3 | Gin 4 |
| Lisa Truscott | Stone Pine Orange Blossom Gin | Hoochery Argyle Pink Native Dry Gin | Archie Rose Bone Dry Gin | Archie Rose Distiller’s Strength Gin |
Dr Dervilla McGowan, Co-owner, Executive Manager and Distiller - Anther Distillery
Derv holds a PhD in Microbiology, and has worked in venue, brand and product development and business management. Derv also has corporate experience in high level big picture process and planning. Derv’s role comprises of running of the business, strategic planning and management of manufacturing.
Joey Tai, Distiller, Distillery Operations Manager and Spirits Specialist - Anther Distillery
Joey is a liquor industry expert in bartending, brand building, sales and co-owns the newly opened bar ‘ The Clooney’ in Port Melbourne. Joey also works closely with Anther’s contracting and collaborating distillers and businesses to support their spirit making journey.
25 February 2022
| Speaker | Gin 1 | Gin 2 | Gin 3 | Gin 4 |
| Joey Tai and Dr Dervilla McGowan | Anther Charismatica |
Anther Cherry Harvest | Anther Australian Dry | Anther Goddess Strength |
