We learn all about how the good stuff is made at this awesome local distillery… and get a few cheeky tasting too!
We’re always on the hunt for fun ways to elevate our sipping game and add exciting new flavours to our cocktail parties. That’s why we’re smitten with the Highlands’ very own Renegade Spirits distillery and all the incredible things they’re doing here in our backyard.
We love that they’re breaking the mould and pushing boundaries to create truly magical spirits with amazing flavours.
To get a closer look at the magic happening at Renegade, we took a little ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour with Jacob who’s part of the distillery team. You might also recognise Jacob from Eden Brewery, which is right next door and crafts brews we could rave about all day…He’s quite the dynamic guy, that Jacob, and we’re all about it!
Ready to get spiritual? Let’s go!
The Renegade Spirit
The ethos is in the name, Jacob tells us.
At Renegade Spirits they’re all about doing things with that rebel energy. The name itself reflects their mission to disrupt the conventional spirit scene and try bold things
“We wanted to bring that same sentiment of craft brewers, who often disrupt the scene with unconventional and unique brews, over to distilling spirits,” says Jacob.
“We want to break the mould and try new things because that’s who we are at heart!”
So good!
Gin-tastic Origins
The crew originally started brewing gin and vodka.
Gin, as Jacob explained, has a quick turnaround, making it a great starting spirit. Plus, in our opinion, it’s a bar cart must.
The team also ventured into creating an organic vodka, which even held the distinction of being the first Australian-made certified organic vodka[ v. cool].
“We try to make everything in-house,” Jacob explained.
The team even produced their own beer and distilled it down to create their unique vodka.
“Unfortunately, it was quite an expensive process and unlike the gin, it didn’t take off as much as we would have liked. We’ve popped it on the back burner for now but maybe one day it will make a resurgence.”
[Fingers crossed]
Makin’ Moon When The Sun Shines
Alongside Gin, Renegade Spirits are now crafting their incredible moonshines, and trust us, they taste even better than they sound [if that’s possible].
Naturally, we had to sneak in a cheeky tasting during our tour… all in the name of research, of course! We’d never tried moonshine before, but after a few sips of each, we were head over the moon in love.
There are three moonshines available at the moment, plus other fun flavours on the way.
We first tried the Shortbread Moonshine, the one that kicked it all off, and it was absolutely crackers. Warm, creamy and comforting, tasting just like one of our fave bikkies.
“We actually launched the Shortbread Moonshine at Brigadoon in 2023 and it was so popular it sold out in like 45 minutes,” says Jacob.
We reckon it’s not only a wonderful sipper but would also go well on ice cream or in a coffee.
Next up was the American Apple Pie and daaaaaaaamn! We love the way it tasted and we’re totally in awe of the way it’s made too.
“This moonshine involves making and taking whole apple pies, then distilling them down to create the apple pie essence that’s added to the spirit,” Jacob tells us.
WOAH, whole apple pies! And peeps it tasted just like an apple pie, all sweet and buttery with that lovely apple crisp. We were dreaming of adding it to a mulled cider or even as a topping for pie a la mode… yum!
Last but certainly not least was the Key Lime Pie moonshine. We’ve never had the pleasure of getting over to Key West in Florida to try an actual Key Lime but we reckon this comes pretty close. With a super limey and fresh taste, this moonshine is almost screaming to be added to a milkshake. It’s smooth, not too acidic, and has a delightful zestiness that took us straight to a lime orchard in our minds.
Jacob then filled us in on more moonshines Renegade Spirits have in the pipeline and we had to catch ourselves from drooling all over the distillery floor. Think exciting new flavours like S’mores, Banana Pudding, Marzipan, Salted Peanut Brittle, and Orange Marmalade-
OMG we can’t wait!
Art And Science
So how are all these wonderful Wonka-esque concoctions made?
Understanding the distillation process at Renegade Spirits is like taking a journey through a steampunk fantasy.
The pot is the heart of the still and it gets filled with a wash, [which is basically a liquid containing alcohol]. Jacob then explained that different spirits start with different washes: beer for whiskey, wine or cider for brandy, sugar-based liquids for rum and so on.
As the pot heats up, alcohol, which boils at a lower temperature than water, evaporates and is condensed back into a higher-strength liquid.
Jacob and the other distillers taste at every step, ensuring each batch is perfect.
“It’s like making our way through pages of a book on our palette,” Jacob described,
“Sometimes a flavour will come through, and it’s like a page you don’t want—so you take that out and keep refining the story until it all is bound together.”
Now that’s a book we’d sure like to read!
And why all the shiny copper?
“Copper is an essential material in our stills, not just because it looks cool, but for its practical benefits too. Copper is a great conductor of heat and helps remove sulphur compounds from the spirits.”
Learning is so fun when Jacob’s teaching us…. Oh, and when there are spirits involved too!
Local And Sustainable
The crew at Renegade Spirits make sure to prioritise local and sustainable sourcing. Jacob
filled us in on some of the awesome plans they’ve got in the works from the world’s first certified organic bourbon, sourced entirely from New South Wales, by collaborating closely with local farmers to ensure top-quality ingredients. Incredible!
We also were so touched by the backstory Jacob told us of the brandy they’ve got in the works.
“When we had the devastating fires 4 years ago, all the local wineries ended up with smoke taint on their wines. This meant that they couldn’t be drunk in the traditional way. Centennial Vineyards actually had something like 36,000 litres of wine with smoke taint that was going to be wasted. We purchased it from them and through the magic of distillation we’re able to remove the smoke flavour to create a really unique brandy”
At the risk of sounding too corny, we think a story like this not only shows sustainability at its best but also symbolises the Highlands’ resurgence from that tough period, rising from the ashes! [Wipes eyes].
Renegade Spirits is a total Highlands Gem and we’re so lucky we got to spend some time chatting with Jacob and trying those tasty spirits too!
If you’re looking for some new and exciting flavours to add to your cocktail cart, are passionate about supporting local and sustainable or are just looking for a fun Friday night
sipper then Renegade Spirits is worth getting to.
At the moment you buy a bottle [or three] online via their website or by taking a visit to Eden Brewery in Mittagong. The website also has some cool cocktail recipes for using different spirits- we can hear that Apple Pie Martini calling our names.
They also often pop up at Highlands events and markets so keep an eye on their socials for their next appearance.
Pssst, we’ve also heard there are some exciting new developments for the distillery space in the future, so make sure to keep your ear to the ground. We’ll definitely be sharing all the news when we find out more.
Now, let’s raise a glass to Renegade Spirits!
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