A brand-new distillery has opened up in Brisbane’s West End, and already has two unique Australian gins up for grabs. BY.ARTISANS aims to cultivate a space for innovation, sustainability and creative collaboration in its flagship space, which hosts tasting rooms, a bar and a café, as well as a retail and event space.
BY.ARTISANS co-founder, Ginn Lai, said the company was born to bring together brands, artists and creators to craft world-class, Queensland-made products.
“The name BY.ARTISANS reflects our commitment to craftsmanship, shining a light on the artistry and dedication behind every creation,” Lai said.
“There are no shortcuts – each product is hand-made in small batches with carefully sourced ingredients and a focus on quality.”
The distillery opening on 28 November also coincided with the launch of the brand’s Signature Gin, which BY.ARTISANS co-founder and master distiller, Alexander Bell, said blended the native botanicals of lemon myrtle, cinnamon myrtle, lavender, wattleseed and eucalyptus, capturing the essence of Australia’s landscape.
Bell is a chemical engineer, who has designed the company’s still to use considerably less energy and fewer resources, reportedly making the distillery one of the nation’s most energy-efficient.
“This is a first-of-its-kind distillation system, capable of producing not only spirits but also a diverse range of essential oils and hydrosols from local botanicals,” said Bell.
“What sets our distillery apart is its versatility. We use the same equipment to produce spirits of exceptional quality as we do to craft lifestyle products such as bespoke soaps, candles and natural dye merchandise – all while minimising our energy and resource use.”
BY.ARTISANS Signature Gin’s white bottle is designed by co-founder and brand director, Alexander Lotersztain, made with a silicone sleeve, custom silicone cap and modern, minimalist design.
“This is a blank canvas because we want this aesthetic to encourage community collaborations. There are already strategic partnerships in the works with artists we admire but we also want to support the undiscovered so would love to hear from emerging local artists too,” said Lotersztain.
A taste of eucalyptus
In the brief time since the launch of Signature Gin, BY.ARTISANS has also launched a collaboration with Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – a Eucalyptus Gin that aims to create something new from waste and support koala conservation efforts.
The partnership aims to celebrate the beauty of Queensland’s natural environment and a shared commitment to sustainability, giving eucalyptus leaves a second life.
Each day, eucalyptus leaves are hand-harvested from Lone Pine’s plantations before sunrise.
While the freshest leaves are reserved to nourish the sanctuary’s koalas, the remaining foliage was previously destined for compost, but will be given a second life in BY.ARTISANS still. The company has crafted a premium gin using botanical vapour infusion.
Lone Pine’s general manager, Lyndon Discombe, said the koala is an iconic species, but their habitat is under constant threat due to urbanisation and deforestation.
“Eucalyptus is vital for koalas, being their sole source of food. This collaboration with BY.ARTISANS helps raise awareness of the challenges koalas face and supports conservation efforts,” said Discombe.
The Eucalyptus Gin will have 5 per cent of all proceeds donated to registered wildlife charities and research groups focused on koala studies and wildlife conservation, supporting the protection of these animals and their habitats.
The unique gin recipe features a balanced profile, complemented by other native botanicals including lemon myrtle and cinnamon myrtle. When creating this gin, Bell said he wanted people to take the experience of walking through Lone Pine home with them.
“Eucalyptus can be a tricky botanical to use, but balanced with the herbaceous citrus and floral character of the other botanicals, it ties it all together into something that is reminiscent of walking through Lone Pine,” said Bell.
“Beyond the bottle, we’re continuing our dedication to innovation and sustainability by further utilising the essential oils we extract and creating a range of byproducts including soaps and candles, handcrafted at our distillery. These items will also be available in early 2025.”
The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Eucalyptus Gin is available for purchase online for RRP $105.00 at www.lonepinekoalasanctuary.com and www.byartisans.com.au, as well as in-store at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and BY.ARTISANS.
