Wow, 2022. That disappeared faster than a G&T on a hot summer’s day. It’s been an action-packed year for all of us here at Archie and in the name of the looming new one, we’re taking a moment to raise a glass and reflect on the biggest and best moments from the year just gone. Read on below.

A big launch (Fundamental Spirits, that is)

In the name of nailing the basics, we launched a range of Fundamental spirits that are an all-Australian, all-quality cut above. Including True Cut Vodka, Straight Dry Gin and Double Malt Whisky (coming 2023), our ambition was to make a range of bar cart fundamentals that were high-quality and entirely Australian (both ingredients and distilling wise). It was also crucial this range was priced to be accessible so anyone across Australia can enjoy local, rather than multinational, on an everyday basis. Mission accomplished.

100% Australian Malts

In a year packed with launches, the unveiling of our limited edition Red Gum & Stringybark Smoked Single Malt Whiskies was something we could be extra proud of. With these we made the move to sourcing all of our malts locally, for the most part from NSW. That means we’re making 100% Australian whisky.

Live Nation x Archie Rose

A real win for us and for Aussies everywhere—this year we proudly signed on as Live Nation’s first Australian white spirits partner. This means that for the first time festival goers across our wide brown land can enjoy Australian-made RTDs while partying at events like BluesFest, FestX, Harvest Rock and many more. Rock on.

Back at it at the Archie Rose Bar

It’s been a joy to see through nearly a fully year of the bar re-open post the-disease-that-shall-not-be-named. Big cheer to the 10,000 plus folks that we welcomed back to our world-famous Blend Your Own Gin and Whisky Classes along with others including Dynamic Klaypots and Christmas Wreath Making. Here’s to more spirits learning and creativity next year.

We love a good StickyBeak

This year we put our beaks together with our friends at P&V Wine Merchants to produce, not one, but two food and drink events under the banner of StickyBeak Festival. The inaugural two-day event of top shelf drinks, top-notch food (from some of Sydney’s best chefs), DJs and curated masterclasses, held in April was so popular, we took it out for another spin in November. Watch this space for more sticky business in ‘23.

Whisky, whisky everywhere

We’re really proud of our whiskies, which is why it gives us a real kick to now see our Single Malt Whisky stocked in bars and bottle shops right around the country. Meaning more and more people can enjoy a dram of Australia’s Best Single Malt Whisky, as voted by the good folk at the World Whisky Masters in the UK and USA this year.

Big award wins for our gins

We were delighted (but not surprised) to see Bone Dry Gin win a Double Gold Medal at the San Fran World Spirits Awards. Plus, we also launched the latest from our Harvest Vintage range, our delicious Lemon Scented Gum Harvest Gin 2021, named one of Australia’s top ten spirits at the Drink Easy Awards.

Frank and White Cane flew the coup

This year we welcomed a new addition to our core range, White Cane, the all-Aussie reimagining of white rum. Made with high-test NSW molasses and cold distilled using our vacuum still to capture the delicate, delicious flavours of locally sourced sugarcane. To celebrate, we gifted over 5,000 Franks (our Cock’a’tail mug-mates) to take pride of place on your bar carts (and hearts).

Busy bees

In celebration of World Bee Day and to pay homage to everything these industrious creatures do, we launched Eau de Bee Honey Spirit, with proceeds going to Wheen Bee, the national charity for bees, following by the launch of older sibling, Honey Barrel, Barrel Aged Honey Spirit last month. Together with Urban Beehive we’ve continued to care for the bees that call our distillery hives home, with their honey harvested and distilled into a botanical distillate for our Tailored Spirits. We also hosted a series of bee and honey focused events at the Archie Rose Bar & Cellar Door.

Another first

This year we also launched WSET qualification and in turn became the first distillery in NSW to be accredited. This means we now offer Spirits training via Master Distiller & Spirits Blender courses. All in the name of spreading the love of Australian spirit making.