Coming Soon: BY.ARTISANS Is West End's Slick New Gin Distillery, Bar, Cafe and Creative Haven
You'll be able to sip, eat and learn at this sleek addition to Jane Street — and take some of the brand's native botanicals-heavy Signature Gin home with you.
The motivation behind BY.ARTISANS isn't simply to add a new tipple to everyone's must-sip list, even if that is the aim of every distillery. For this West End-based brand, getting attention on Queensland-born artistry and Sunshine State-made products is a key reason for being. Tempting eyes towards its soon-to-open Jane Street flagship won't be hard — the slick, sleek, minimalist-leaning venue, which favours natural tones with pops of greenery and silver distilling equipment around the place, instantly stands out.
"The name BY.ARTISANS reflects our commitment to craftsmanship, shining a light on the artistry and dedication behind every creation," explains Co-Founder Ginn Lai.
"There are no shortcuts — each product is hand-made in small batches with carefully sourced ingredients and a focus on quality."
"We wanted to create a space that challenges the preconceptions of a distillery, and offers something new and unexpected," added fellow Co-Founder and Brand Director Alexander Lotersztain said.
BY.ARTISANS is launching its distillery on Thursday, November 28, 2024 — and it isn't just somewhere where spirits are made and drunk. Also part of the setup: a cafe that'll serve a curated range of food and a creative haven, where tasting rooms and the bar sit beside an event space, a retail space and room for workshops.
"We have created a retreat that embraces the community, emphasises the space's multi-functionality, and is warm and welcoming during the day and at night," continues Lotersztain about an address that mirrors the pared-back aesthetics of the brand's Signature Gin, which comes in a eye-catching white bottle.
"The retail space, too, has a curated selection of amazing homewares and objects from local artists and designers."
As for the Signature Gin, a small-batch drop that goes heavy on native botanicals, it's been crafted under the guidance of BY.ARTISANS's third Co-Founder Alexander Bell, who is also the resident Master Distiller — and a chemical engineer. Expect to taste lemon myrtle, cinnamon myrtle, lavender, wattleseed and eucalyptus, all in a tipple made in a still designed to be one of the country's most energy-efficient by Bell.
"This is a first-of-its-kind distillation system, capable of producing not only spirits but also a diverse range of essential oils and hydrosols from local botanicals," he notes.
"What sets our distillery apart is its versatility. We use the same equipment to produce spirits of exceptional quality as we do to craft lifestyle products such as bespoke soaps, candles and natural dye merchandise — all while minimising our energy and resource use."
Find BY.ARTISANS at 99 Jane Street, West End, from Thursday, November 28, 2024 — open 10am–late Thursday–Sunday. Head to the distillery's website for more information.
Images: Florian Groehn.