Bitter sweet Aussie liqueur wins acclaim

Tamborine Mountain Distillery’s Quandong & Gentian bitters liqueur scooped Gold at the ISW World Spirits Competition in Germany, bringing the overall total of awards won by this family-owned Australian distillery to an impressive 117 this millennium.

Company director Michael Ward said: “Brisbane bartender Ryan Lane, spoke of the need for a Maraschino type liqueur, popular for its bitter sweet characteristics.

"With European products generally dominating the shelves in cocktail bars, the gap for an Australian made product of this type lead to extensive research and the ultimate end result of a unique high quality and distinctly Australian flavoured product. Bitter for the significant component of Gentian and sweet for the juicy Australian Quandong berry.

“Quandong’s are a traditional Aussie bush tucker. They’re found in arid regions of Australia and have been an important source of food for the Aborigines. The fruit and trees are greatly valued for the versatility of their medicinal properties. The berries are high in vitamin c and add a beautiful fruitiness to this liqueur which balances perfectly with a bitterness from Gentian root and Hyssop leaves and subtle hints of bitter almond from crushed cherry pits.”

1 June 2010 - Felicity Murray