By Stefanie Collins, editor b&c
One of the world’s best known gin extravaganzas, London’s Junipalooza, is coming to Melbourne to celebrate the local gin movement.
Olivier and Emile Ward, founders of Gin Foundry have partnered with Australia’s own Caroline Childerley, The Gin Queen, to bring Junipalooza to Australia for the first time. Currently in its third year in London, the Melbourne iteration will be hosted by the Meat Market over the weekend of 22-23 October.
The event will feature a range of Australian gin distillers, with guests able to sample gins, try mini G&Ts, sample cocktails, and participate in masterclasses. Of course there will be takeaway sales as well.
According to Olivier Ward, he and partner Emile have been watching the Australian gin industry grow for a while.
“[We] are huge fans of what has been made and are always impressed by how passionate makers are about what they create,” he says. “Combined with the first class cocktail culture and award-winning bars like Black Pearl, Melbourne is a natural fit for Gin Foundry’s Junipalooza.”
Childerley is understandably excited to be involved with promoting the local gin distillers that she loves so much.
“I’m so impressed with our Australian gin distilling industry and how they’re taking on the world,” she says. “We will be hosting over 26 gin distillers from both Australia and overseas providing a really unique Meet the Maker experience for attendees.”
The confirmed 2016 line-up includes:
Australia: Four Pillars Distillery / The West Winds Gin / Great Southern Distillery / Archie Rose Distilling / Poor Toms Gin / 78 Degrees Gin / Shene Estate Distillery / Bass & Flinders Distillery / Dobsons Gin / Mt Uncle Distillery/ Distillery Botanica / Lark Distillery / Young Henrys Distillery / William McHenry Distillery / Hippocampus Distillery / Animus Distillery / Melbourne Gin Company
NZ: Broken Heart Spirits
UK: Tarquin’s Gin / Pinkster Gin / Makar Glasgow Gin /Pickering’s Gin / Hayman’s Gin
US: St George Spirits
The Event:
Junipalooza Melbourne
Meat Market, 5 Blackwood Street, Melbourne VIC 3051, Australia
Saturday 22nd – Sunday 23rd October, 2016
One session per day, 12:00-18:00