Gold Coast business: Award-winning Miami distillery Granddad Jack’s has eye on becoming major exporter

A Miami distillery, famous for its multi-award winning gin, has its eye on becoming a major contributor to the city’s burgeoning export scene.

Granddad Jack’s has officially entered the international market, shipping their award-winning boutique blends around the world. Pictured are founders and father-and-son duo Luke and David Ridden. Picture: Tim Marsden

AN award-winning Gold Coast distillery has its eye on becoming a major Gold Coast exporter after sending its first shipment overseas recently.

Granddad Jack’s, founded by father-and-son duo David and Luke Ridden, launched in Miami last year.

It has sent its first shipment of gin to Greece and has plans to expand its footprint to include the US, UK, Guam, Asia and Croatia by the end of next year with a goal of 24,000 litres for export.

The Greece shipment includes all three of Granddad Jack’s gins – 65 Miles, Greenhouse and Two Pencils – and is being supplied to cocktail bar Alexandros Café on the island of Paros.

Granddad Jack's distillery has won multiple awards for its gin. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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The next order is set to be shipped to California in February and consist of all three gins plus the distillery’s Barbershop Coffee Liqueur.

David Ridden said Granddad Jack’s has big plans for the distillery’s second year in business.

“For Granddad Jack’s we see Greece as the tip of the iceberg with plans to not only expand our export list but become one of the Gold Coast’s biggest exporters within the next five years,” he said.

“We also want to employ more Gold Coasters to become part of our dream team and open our first Granddad Jack’s Distillery Bars interstate within the next year.”

Granddad Jack's Distillery is preparing to export its spirit concoctions around the world. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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The distillery’s first 12 months in business has seen it rack up an impressive collection of awards.
They include its Two Pencils a juniper gin being awarded a gold medal at the Australian Gin Awards and Australian Distilled Spirit Awards and a silver at Tasting Australia Spirit Award.

Botanical blend The Greenhouse took out silver medals at both the Australian Gin Awards and Tasting Australia Spirit Awards.

Luke Ridden – who is the nation’s youngest commercial distiller at 22 – said the distillery’s year to date is just a spirited taste of what is to come.

Granddad Jack’s has officially entered the international market, shipping their award-winning boutique blends around the world. Pictured are founders and father-and-son duo Luke and David Ridden. Picture: Tim Marsden

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“Granddad Jack’s has been fortunate to have the immense support of our local Gold Coast community, and since opening, we have hosted over 12,000 local and international guests cementing ourselves as one of the must-do experiences on the Gold Coast,” he said.

“Our quick rise to success and international recognition illustrates just what you can do in this City with a little focus and determination and it shows that if you produce a great product the locals will support you.”

Grandad Jack’s, which operates tours and a tasting room from its Miami distillery, posted on social media earlier this year that it could no longer sell liquor outside of tours as its operation did not meet Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation licence guidelines.

Dave Ridden said the issue had subsequently been resolved and the distillery was currently operating under a wholesale licence whereby all product sold is produced onsite.