IN PRIME POSITION

Online giant’s Tassie store

ONLINE retail giant Amazon is giving Tasmanian products global exposure with a dedicated section for the Island State. Tasmania has become the first in Australia to launch a dedicated state-based brand store offering vodka, gin, tonic, whisky, walnuts and sea salt.

FIVE distinctive Tasmanian brands will be showcased to a greater number of prospective buyers under a deal with online retail giant Amazon.

Tasmania has become the first in Australia to launch a dedicated state-based brand store on Amazon.com.au, which initially features McHenry’s Distillery, Tasman Sea Salt, Hartshorn Distillery, Coaldale Walnuts and The Tasmanian Tonic Company.

The move allows Hartshorn Distillery owner Ryan Hartshorn to highlight his award-winning vodka, which is made from sheep whey.

Mr Hartshorn and his family run Grandvewe Cheeses in Birchs Bay, and he uses the sheep whey – most of which was previously discarded – to make vodka, gin and whisky.

The micro distillery is his brainchild. Self-taught, he spent significant time perfecting the art of distilling before launching the business about five years ago.

In 2017, the vodka won Champion Vodka of Australia at the World Vodka Awards in London.

“That was huge. A big part of it is the whey and the way we distil it. We don’t filter our spirit,’’ he said.

Mr Hartshorn said the spirits were made by fermenting

the lactose sugar in the sheep’s whey.

“You’ll smell the sweetness of the milk and a creamy texture when you drink it,’’ he said. “There’s a lot more character to the spirit (than others), and you can drink it neat or as a martini.”

The distillery produces about 1000 bottles of spirits per week.

Mr Hartshorn said being part of the brand store was an honour and “quite humbling”.

“It’s a big positive for our brand to be associated with other great Tasmanian companies,’’ Mr Hartshorn said.

“The more products that are amazing quality and are really interesting and produced

in Tasmania, we all help each other.

“It’s like having another distributor for us, because we’re sending a whole pallet of stock to (Amazon’s) Sydney warehouse.”

Alice Laing, who cofounded Tasman Sea Salt with husband Chris Manson in 2014, said it was an “amazing” opportunity to showcase the brand to a wider audience.

“What makes our business special is the purity of the water, which makes our salt taste so amazing,’’ she said.

“Unless you can see the ocean or see where that salt comes from, you don’t really get it, so for us to be able to put our own video and images

on the Amazon brand page is totally invaluable.”

Tasmanian Trade Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the brand store would enable producers to expand their businesses and sales on the mainland.

“It is a key step in facilitating trade opportunities, both digital and traditional, to help our trading businesses boost their sales, gain more exposure and let more people enjoy what is Tasmanian,’’ Mr Rockliff said.

Businesses interested in joining the store on Amazon should send an expression of interest to trade@stategrowth.tas. gov.au