Miami distillery Granddad Jack’s ready to make your gin and whiskey dreams come true

BESPOKE Gold Coast gin and whiskey – yes please! Call the babysitter because the central Gold Coast’s newest distillery officially has an open date. SEE THE VIDEO

RAISE your glass because the Gold Coast’s newest distillery is almost ready to open its doors.

Granddad Jack’s Distillery at Miami is scheduled to open August 24, around six months after father and son duo Luke and David Ridden ditched their full-time jobs and started living their distillery dream.

The interior of Granddad Jack’s. Picture Glenn Hampson

But considering neither man had much experience building a distillery, making alcohol or even running a business beforehand, it’s been a wild ride getting to this point.

“We were originally planning to open in May but we had a few setbacks,” Luke said.

“There were two months of delays with our still and little issues with building that all add up.

“By the time we officially open we’ll have a tasting room ready where we’ll be able to do cocktails and gin tastings.

“It will be our own product, all the stuff we’ve been distilling and bottling except for whiskey.

“It’s been crazy, but what’s the fun in doing something you know everything about?”

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David Ridden serving up some of his gin. Picture Glenn Hampson

The closest distilleries to the Gold Coast are Tamborine Mountain Distillery, Beenleigh Distillery and Husk Distillers at Tumbulgum.

Granddad Jack’s has three types of gin ready for consumption and two whiskies that are sitting in barrels where they will mature for the next year.

Come August 24, members of the public will be able to visit the distillery, sample the goods in the tasting room and learn all there is to know about making spirits.

With the equipment the Riddens have acquired, they have the capacity to make a wide range of spirits, but they’ve realised the hardest part about making alcohol is figuring out what to call it.

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Luke with his slew of spirit making equipment. Picture Glenn Hampson

“We will be able to make a lot of spirits but because of the liquor laws we can’t call it certain things,” Luke said.

“You can’t call it tequila if it’s not made in Mexico, you can’t call it bourbon if it’s not made in the US, you can’t call it scotch if it’s not made in Scotland.

“But that’s a good thing for us to stay versatile and get creative with making spirits and naming them after things that are truly Gold Coast.”

Once Granddad Jack’s opens its doors, it will add to craft offerings Lost Palms Brewing and Black Hops Brewing and foodie haven Miami Marketta.