The new world-class production facility and cellar door at Kangaroo Island Spirits has been officially opened, and it’s just as gorgeous as we had hoped.
This $3.5 million investment – with a $500,000 grant from the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) $20 million Tourism Development Fund – is the perfect showcase for the award-winning spirits producer, owned by Mighty Craft.
The project, designed in collaboration with SA-based architecture firm Studio S2 Architects and set within beautifully landscaped gardens with native botanicals, includes the installation of a 1,800L steam-driven gin still that will see the Kangaroo Island site producing up to 3,000L of gin a week, as well as a 4,500L whisky still. This will allow 1,200L of the spirit to be produced each week, making Kangaroo Island Spirits the largest whisky distillery in South Australia.
Mighty Craft Managing Director Mark Haysman said the new facility and cellar door at Kangaroo Island Spirits heralds a new chapter in the distillery’s 16-year history and will attract tourists and business opportunities to Kangaroo Island.
“With the addition of a range of exciting and immersive tasting experiences and a new Spirits Academy on the island, our vision is to attract additional visitors, be involved in a wider a range of events, create new jobs for locals and increase our capacity for innovation and excellence,” he said.
SATC Chief Executive Rodney Harrex said the opening of Kangaroo Island Spirits’ production facility and cellar door provided an outstanding opportunity for Kangaroo Island.
“Kangaroo Island is a premium tourism destination in South Australia, and we are delighted to have supported this project of Mighty Craft and Kangaroo Island Spirits,” he said. “It’s an exciting time for tourism on the island and with international tourism restarting from as early as next week, the timing of this launch couldn’t be better,” Mr Harrex said.
With its sights firmly set on taking Kangaroo Island Spirits’ uniquely Australian, hand-crafted products to the world, the brand and packaging has also been overhauled giving it a new look and feel. “With the addition of ‘Est 2006’, a nod to its position as Australia’s first dedicated gin distillery, the bottles’ unique designs highlight the island botanicals that are handpicked by the distilling team and at the forefront of the flavour profile of each spirit,” said Mr Haysman.
The new bottles can be found in leading bottles shops, restaurants, and bars, and via Kangaroo Island Spirits’ website from March 2022.
Mighty Craft’s new Spirits Academy at Emu Bay on Kangaroo Island is set to become a centre of learning, innovation, and excellence for Australian distilling talent. Overseen by Mighty Craft’s Group Distiller George Campbell, the Spirits Academy has been designed as an industry-leading resource and will be used to induct new distilling staff and enhance their technical distilling expertise.
Kangaroo Island Spirits’ exciting and immersive tasting experiences kick off on 1 April and include a premium gin tasting flight, a blend-your-own-gin experience led by a member of the Kangaroo Island Spirits team, and a cocktail masterclass where guests will make drinks using Kangaroo Island Spirits’ award-winning gins, vodkas, and liqueurs.
Kangaroo Island Spirits is one of Australia’s most consistently awarded gin brands and receives numerous local, national, and international accolades each year.
KIS Wild Gin and O’Gin rated highly at the 2021 International Spirits Competition winning Platinum, Double Gold and Consumer Choice Awards. KIS Whisky Barrel Aged Gin won gold at prestigious 2021 Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition while a ‘Best in Category’ trophy was awarded to KIS Old Tom Gin in the 2021 Australian Gin Distilling Awards. It was also a gold medal winner in Tasting Australia’s 2021 Spirit Awards.
856 Playford Highway, Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island, SA
kispirits.com.au
instagram.com/kispirits
facebook.com/kispirits
Kangaroo Island Spirits is open daily from 10:30am – 5:30pm.
More News
