When Angus Tinworth, and his mother, Michelle, were experimenting with botanicals in their family kitchen, little did they know that just 14 months later they’d develop an award-winning gin brand.
Their first release ‘Future Vintage’, under their eponymous Ginworth brand, is a contemporary take on a Classic London Dry, and has just been named Australia’s Best Classic Gin at the 2022 World Gin Awards presented by TheDrinksReport.com, last month.
“We only launched Future Vintage late last year so to be awarded ‘Australia’s Best Classic Gin’ so soon is absolutely incredible and to be recognised on the international stage in the company of some of Australia’s best gins is very exciting,” said Angus.
Drawing inspiration from their Italian heritage, they set out to create a gin to be shared in the company of friends and family, something they had been missing during Sydney’s COVID-19 lockdowns.
“We felt an instant connection with a distillery in Tasmania, who worked with us on a number of variations and from there we narrowed it down to the one we thought most nailed the profile we were trying to achieve – a traditional, juniper forward gin with strong citrus notes. It was important for us to get the basics right first and from here we can start to play and experiment with other variations.”
“We felt an instant connection with a distillery in Tasmania, who worked with us on a number of variations and from there we narrowed it down to the one we thought most nailed the profile we were trying to achieve – a traditional, juniper forward gin with strong citrus notes. It was important for us to get the basics right first and from here we can start to play and experiment with other variations.”
The small batch gin is twice distilled in local made copper pot stills in Tasmania, which has earned a reputation for producing some of Australia’s best spirits. The 100% copper contact during the distillation process results in an exceptionally luxurious mouthfeel and a refreshingly clean finish on the palate.
“We are grateful to have had the opportunity to develop our very own spirit in collaboration with distillers who have an immense passion for their craft, which you can genuinely taste in each bottle,” added Angus.
Once the wheels were in motion, the pair were faced with the challenge of creating a spirit brand in the midst of a global pandemic, resulting in the majority of work being delivered virtually.
“At one point we were sending label samples to each other via UBER,” said Michelle.
With the duo originating from creative backgrounds, there was an emphasis on creating a premium bottle and packaging. The challenging design brief was to find the right balance between sophistication and contemporary.
Not only was the gin important, but the overall design of the bottle and packaging needed to elevate the end customer experience.
“There were so many elements to get right. From the bottle, to closure, label and packaging – we laboured over different concepts for months and went through a rigorous design process with an international design consultancy, who we engaged to bring our design ideas to life across a number of touch points and to develop the overall visual identity of the brand.
“We went into this knowing it’s a very crowded market, so we really needed to create a premium spirit that would not only taste exceptional, but also turn heads on the shelf,” added Michelle.
GINWORTH Future Vintage will now go up against the other country winners with the chance of being named the World’s Best Classic Gin, or even better, the World’s Best Gin, set to be announced this month.
Future Vintage is available online at GINWORTH.COM