END OF ERA BUT SPIRIT LIVES ON
AFTER 25 years as one of the region’s favourite attractions, the Tamborine Mountain Distillery has been sold – but there will be no call for last drinks yet.
New owners Shumei Hou and Gordon Chalmers have big plans for the little distillery, which they say has a shot at world domination.
Michael and Alla Ward moved here from Tasmania 25 years ago and found themselves on four acres loaded with fruit trees. Favouring liquor over jam, they decided to build a distillery. After overcoming liquor licensing hurdles and gaining elusive excise approval from the tax office, they set about building their repertoire of 70-plus drinks – vodkas, gins, schnapps – and more than 46 varieties of liqueur.
With Mr Ward spinning yarns for the customers, and wife Alla creating the colourful concoctions, the distillery has become a mountain institution.
Mr Ward recommends 20ml of the Wild Citrus Vodka, with 20ml lime juice cordial, topped with soda – although he doesn’t indulge often. “I don’t drink alcohol that much, which is just as well because I’d be pissed every day by 10am,” he said.