Tamborine Mountain Distillery reopens in a bigger and better location

A historic Gold Coast distillery is toasting to a bigger and better future, writes Amber Macpherson. It’s moving to a new location with plenty of exciting new things on offer.

Gordon Chalmers (general manager) and Shumei Hou (managing director) in the distillery shop/bar. Picture: Tertius Pickard

SUCCESS is a double-edged sword for Tamborine Mountain Distillery.

When the people started arriving in droves to taste and purchase its specially distilled liqueurs and spirits, the boutique business struggled with the demand.

So rather than buckle under the pressure, owner Gordon Chalmers relocated the 25-year-old company to a bigger and better premises that will be entirely open for business later this month.

Some of the drinks on offer. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“We took the business over a year and a half ago, it’s boomed and seen a 65 per cent increase (in business since then),” Gordon says.

“We have a temporary shop while we build this monster place. It’s multiple times bigger.”

Visitors to Tamborine Mountain might be familiar with the Tudor-style building that concocted a variety of award-winning liqueurs, vodkas, schnapps and more, its olde world charm somehow juxtaposing and complementing the picturesque tourist town’s scenery.

The distillery shop/bar. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Gordon says the location was putting too much pressure on nearby facilities, with the new venue providing convenience and a more central position.

“There’s 1.4 million visitors to the mountain every year. Modern tourism doesn’t like searching for places in the backstreets,” Gordon says.

“It was opposite a church and a school, it was overflowing onto the streets. We had 12 car spaces and seven staff. We just couldn’t expand anymore.

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Gordon Chalmers and Shumei Hou in the distillery shop/bar. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“The opportunity came to buy the old brewery, so we grabbed it. This (new venue) is a prime location in the main tourist gallery walk.

“We’ve got more and more room than we ever have. It’s 1300sq m of outside licence venue, which will be under a canopy, there’s a massive porch, there’s a rainforest bar that can sit 30 people.

“It’s a great location on a 5000sq m block, we’re the gateway to the gallery walk.

“It’s the biggest renovation that’s ever been done on the mountain. It’s an Elizabethan Tudor style house on the front, you’ll feel like you’re walking back in time.

“We’re the same style and standard, just much, much bigger.”

Customers aplenty! Picture: Tertius Pickard

The new building began life as an art collectors’ space, before transforming into a restaurant and a micro brewery.

Gordon says the new location will house two bars, a gift shop and a large museum recounting the history of the distillery, its drinks and the town.

“We’ve built a really big museum, it will show how we distil our drinks,” Gordon says.

“We’re the third oldest distiller in Queensland. People don’t really understand the history behind the drinks, so the large museum will help with that.

“You’ll be able to see demonstrations on cocktails, spritzers, how it’s all made, in a great tasting room.”

The distillery is also looking forward to releasing a new line of alcohol with its flagship Absinthe range already proving a hit with locals and visitors.

“We’re launching a new range called Moulin Rouge Absinthe. It’s a 60 per cent aniseed drink, it makes you hallucinate and teleport,” Gordon laughs.

“We’ve designed five new products all with the same label — people are buying the new bottle just for the label because it’s a picture of a kangaroo drinking absinthe.”

Tamborine Mountain Distillery is operating with a small bar, temporary tasting room and gift shop from 10am to 4pm daily at 10 Macdonnell Road, Tamborine Mountain, with the extension due to open later this month.