Cape Byron Distillery has responded to the Federal Government’s continual increases on spirits tax with the development of a new on-premise exclusive ‘Excise Strength’ Gin.

Excise Strength is only available in a bulk format, with the distillery creating a unique 15-litre ‘jug-in-a-box’ helping to reduce the environmental impact and packaging costs, with Brookie’s passing those savings onto the venue. The result is a premium Australian gin at a competitive price point that also helps with saving the planet.

Eddie Brook, Co-founder and distiller at Cape Byron Distillery said: “Our goal is for Excise Strength Gin to create momentum for change to our unsustainable and archaic excise system. Spirits are unfairly taxed compared to other alcohols in Australia, and the producers and venue owners in our industry feel the brunt of this discriminatory spirit tax.

“If we can inspire conversation in our industry and with government whilst sipping on a delicious Brookie’s G&T in hand, then we’d be pretty happy with that.”

The core botanicals in Excise Strength include juniper, pink grapefruit, coriander seed, native raspberry, and macadamia, with Brookie’s describing it as a gin that stands up in a G&T, stirs down in a Negroni and is made for premium pre-batched cocktails.

Brook added: “The spirit that we have created is sensational. We set out to craft a perfectly balanced gin for the modern Australian cocktail bar and versatile enough to be used from classic cocktails to modern inventive drinks…but this is more than just a great gin.”

Cape Byron is a B-Corp certified distillery with the environmental and sustainability running deep into the company’s core values. So it is not surprising the company has created the 15-litre jug as an innovative solution for the reduction of packaging waste.

Each box contains approximately 22x700ml bottles, which means a 14kg reduction of glass bottle waste, and the cardboard box and jug are both 100 per cent kerbside recyclable. But the distillery said before throwing the jugs out venues can consider using them for pre-batching bulk cocktails as each one comes with an easy-to-use screw-on tap system that will minimise leaks and wastage.

Alex McManus, Sustainability Manager at Cape Byron Distillery said: “At Brookie’s Gin, sustainability is at our core, by offering a larger container, we are able to reduce the overall packaging weight from entering the supply chain.

“While the box is still made from virgin HDPE this large format box is over 520 grams lighter than other standard industry containers, that’s over 11 x two-litre milk jugs, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint.

“We believe that businesses now have the option for making a responsible choice, such as opting for the Brookie’s Excise Strength Gin pack, we can collectively contribute to a greener, circular future for our planet.”

Brookie’s 38 per cent ABV, Excise Strength Gin, 15-litre box is now available through ALM connect, Paramount and direct through the distillery.

Get in touch with the Brookie’s Gin team:

Andy Young

Andy joined Intermedia as Editor of The Shout in 2015, writing news on a daily basis and also writing features for National Liquor News. Now Managing Editor of both The Shout and Bars and Clubs.

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