Award-winning local beverage enterprise Kalki Moon has just received its first import of juniper from the UK to ramp up gin production in Bundaberg.
After requiring just 10kg orders in 2017 the rising distiller now takes half a tonne.
Juniper is the primary botanical used in gin and needs to be the dominant flavour in anything seeking to be classified as gin.
Founded by former Bundaberg Rum master distiller Rick Prosser, Kalki Moon is family owned and operated.
They won gold at last year’s Australian Distilled Spirits competition in Melbourne.
“We are now open seven days a week and last year our classic gin won gold in London,” he said.
“Out of 600 entries in the gin category there were only 14 gold medals and ours was the only 37 per cent-class winning gin.”
Rick said he uses locally grown lemon, cinnamon myrtle, Bundaberg’s famous ground ginger and native finger lime in classic and premium gin.
He said the operation recently expanded its premises and currently employs six people in the family business.
“Sales are going very well with our products through most Queensland independent bottle shops and nationally in 90 Dan Murphy stores,” Rick said.
Earlier this month, the company announced on Facebook its first rum barrel turned two years old and was now legally rum.
“This doesn’t mean we have rum for sale. Due to the success of our gin range our rum production has suffered in volume and we are now anticipating a mid-2020 launch,” Rick said.
The distillery at 22 Commercial Street, Bundaberg, is open seven days a week.
