Headlands Distilling Company started from humble beginnings, when in early 2015 – and with nothing more than a collective goal to produce hand-crafted spirits – four good friends founded Wollongong’s first distillery, in New South Wales, Australia.
Having overcome numerous setbacks and challenges, the founders’ positive attitude and they launched their first product: Seacliff Vodka and in 2019 they released three new products, which had also been years in the making.
Spirit of the Illawarra Plum, barrel aged for nine months; Boobialla gin, made exclusively from Australian native juniper and Daalgaal, gin steeped in Illawarra Plums for over six months6.
2020 saw the release of our first Single Malt Whisky. Finished in casks which were seasoned with Seppeltsfield Rare Rich Apera and Rare Muscat.
The company will also be releasing the world’s first Illawarra Plum cask whisky, aged in ex-Spirit of the Illawarra Plum barrels.
In 2023 they entered the London Spirits Competition and were delighted with the results.
MUSCAT CASK WHISKY: Gold
APERA CASK WHISKY: Gold
SEACLIFF VODKA: Silver
TIDAL LINES GIN: Silver
BOOBIALLA GIN: Bronze
MOUNTAIN & SEA GIN: Bronze
Commenting on The London Spirits Competition, co-founder Thomas Simnadis was impressed:
“It provided us with an independent evaluation of our products and invaluable feedback about tasting notes. We were happy with the individualised feedback and care taken by organisers to ensure products arrived on time and were given the attention they deserve.”
On the subject of winning the gold medals at the event, Thomas has been delighted with the impact: “Winning gold medals at the London Spirits Competition has proven to be a powerful mechanism to attract international buyers to Headlands’ products. Winning such awards demonstrates that objective evaluators rank our products in the highest category of quality. This triggered us to advertise medals through online and print media to promote the Headlands’ portfolio and further illustrate the unique selling points of our products.”
With an increasing number of drinks competitions to choose from, value for money is an important factor in deciding which events to support, On this point, Thomas was not disappointed: “The London Spirits Competition is an exception, with buyers holding such an award in the highest esteem. This reflects the inherent value of winning gold medals at the London Spirits Competition, which has helped propel us forward as we grow Headlands both locally in Australia and further afield in overseas markets.”
This competition has been invaluable to the company and Thomas succinctly summarised their plans for the future: “We will definitely enter again in 2024.”
For more information about Headlands Distillery visit their website
For more information about the London Spirits Competition visit their
website
