Mildura based distillery opens second venue in Melbourne!

After over a year of planning, renovations, unique challenges, glorious chaos and plenty of laughs, Mildura based business Fossey’s Distillery have officially opened their new Melbourne venue.

Located at 209 Lygon St, Carlton (in between the ANZ bank and Papa Gino’s – you know the place!) the Fossey’s team brings their quirky delightfulness and Fossey’s flair to “the big smoke”.

Family owned and operated; Fossey’s Distillery is the epitome of a boutique distillery.

Starting their journey in Mildura in 2017, Fossey’s was initially started as a “lifestyle business” but quickly escalated into something so much more.

Owner Steve Timmis reflects, “We started Fossey’s as a little bit of fun. Something we could do a day or two a week with a focus on tourists coming in to the cellar door, online sales, and just have great time doing something we loved. Looking back at our initial business plan, we were going to open one day a week on a Thursday afternoon and run the still once a month.”

Fossey’s Distillery has gone from strength to strength in the years since they opened, winning tourist choice awards for their venue, produce awards winning products (talk to them about the gold medal status of their Navel Strength Gin, very proud indeed!) and build a brand that’s completely true to them and their personality.

“We take so much pride in what we do, and we think that shows in every single thing that we put our name to. We give 110% every time and we love being able to have a brand and a product that truly reflect who we are as a family and embraces the many incredible personalities that work with us.”

Fossey’s, like all distillery and hospitality business, were no strangers to the challenges that were met during the recent pandemic years.

“It was a challenging time that’s for sure.” says Cherie Gowers, manager of Fossey’s Distillery and daughter to Steve, “Every lockdown was different, and with every announcement came challenges that we very quickly had to navigate through not only for our staff, but we also had to very quickly pick the “vibe” and try to provide our amazing customers with what they were needing at that time – be it humour, thoughtfulness, gifting opportunities or just a bit of fun. It was a difficult time to run a business that’s for sure as you needed to be so reactive to the circumstances all whilst trying to plan ahead for a world that we weren’t even sure would return to normal.”

It was during this time, that Fossey’s Distillery made the decision to open a second venue based in Melbourne.

“Opening another venue had always been a conversation that just quietly tinkered in the background. We had considered other regional towns and but Melbourne hadn’t been considered until during the covid years. An opportunity came up with the venue and just looking at the pictures and the location, it seemed like the perfect place to call our new home.”

Fossey’s have had a strong presence in Melbourne since opening their Mildura distillery, and could not pass up the opportunity to bring a little of their Fossey’s flair to the “Big Smoke”.

“Being located in Mildura, we’ve always been geographically challenged,” says Steve “It made attending metro events and supplying wholesale customers extremely challenging. But now with a Melbourne based venue, we are able produce and sell with more ease and also enjoy the company of Melbourne based customers when they come in for a tasting or a cocktail.”

Based in an iconic Lygon Street location, the blue stone venue which was once the well-loved local restaurant IL Cantuccio Restaurant, is now home to Fossey’s Distillery.

Whilst respecting the heritage, history and spirit of the building, Fossey’s have created an incredibly beautiful space to call their own.

On December 7th 2022, they quietly but proudly had their “official open” with some of their wonderful friends, staff from Mildura and members of local community in attendance.

It had been rumoured that the pressure was on, as their new Still “Elsie” only started working with minutes to spare before officially opening their doors.

But if you know the Fossey’s crew, you’ll know that they are no strangers to these quirky challenges, all of which are met with humour…and a good stiff Gin afterwards.

Fossey’s Distillery Lygon is open every Wednesday through until Sunday from 12pm.

On offer are Gin and Whisky tastings, a full retail store featuring not only their own products, but other amazing Australian spirits and local Mildura wine.

They also have a delicious food menu plus a stunning cocktail bar upstairs.

The folks at Fossey’s absolutely love it when you drop in!

All bookings can be made my phoning 03 9100 1916 or emailing lygon@fosseysgin.com.au.

Be sure to keep an eye on their social media pages as the Fossey’s team are always up to something fun!

Fossey’s at Sipafrolic 2023!

Fossey’s are super excited to be part of the Sipafrolic event debuting March 3rd-5th 2023 at North Melbourne’s iconic Meat Market venue! 
TICKETS NOW ON SALE! $59

https://sipafrolic.com.au/

SIPAFROLIC is the first ever Victorian event to bring together a mix of premium indie distillers, alternative small vineyard wineries & craft beer.

Expect unlimited gin, whisky, beer & wine tastings, delicious mixers supplied by Long Rays, tasting glass to keep and access to get up close and personal and meet the makers themselves!

Entertainment includes Grape Stomping, Cooperage demonstrations, a variety of Masterclasses plus loads more!

Come and see us at Sipafrolic! 

Get your Ticket NOW! www.sipafrolic.com.au

MEDIA RELEASE: Post COVID events starting to come back!

MEDIA RELEASE - Post COVID events starting to come back!

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Fossey’s Distillery presents their first ever Twilight Christmas Market.

This Saturday December 11th will see Fossey’s Distillery host their first ever Twilight Christmas Market held in Risbey Lane directly alongside the Fossey’s venue at 110 Eighth Street Mildura.

A weekend normally reserved for their big end of year laneway event “Fossey’s Festivale” where 250 people would attend the venue and laneway for live music, alternative entertainment along with food and drink, Fossey’s this year have decided to continue with the laneway event tradition but with something different.

“This year we have decided to hold a Twilight Christmas Market” says Fossey’s manager Cherie “We have really enjoyed attending markets ourselves in recent months and we wanted to hold an event like we normally would, and so a market seemed like something we wanted to try.”

Fossey’s, like all hospitality business, have struggled and pivoted through the ongoing issues and restrictions with COVID and had genuinely thought they were through the worst of it when business was almost back to normal earlier in the year.

“We had obviously had a few snap lockdowns earlier in the year, but by and large things mostly felt back to normal trading,” continues Cherie “We had even managed to host a laneway event in May without any hiccups and there was a real vibe in the air that events were back and we could start to live our lives again. We were about to hold our biggest event of the year being World Gin Day, just as the serious lockdowns started again and once again obliterated our industry.”

Fossey’s, like most event organisers, are nervous when putting shows on and with the uncertainty of restrictions and border issues, they just could not see a big December show going ahead like they normally would.

“Amidst all of the challenges of the year, we are looking forward to ending the year with an event, having a full venue and laneway and seeing everything come together this Saturday.”

Fossey’s Twilight Christmas Market will feature local stall holders along the laneway with food and bar drinks available plus live music performed by Iwan and Andrea.

“It’s a fantastic way to shop local this year,’ says Cherie “You get to have some of your favourite market stalls in a unique location with drinks, food and music available for a bit of a party vibe whilst you socialise and get Christmas shopping done at the same time.”

Fossey’s Twilight Christmas Market will be held this Saturday December 11th 2021 from 4pm – 9pm in Risbey Lane at 110 Eighth Street Mildura.

End release

Media contact: Cherie Gowers 0438 512 336 Steve Timmis 0400 819 198

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Fossey’s at Sipafrolic 2023!

Fossey’s are super excited to be part of the Sipafrolic event debuting March 3rd-5th 2023 at North Melbourne’s iconic Meat Market venue! TICKETS NOW

MEDIA RELEASE & Launch Invitation – Darling Harvest Gin

MEDIA RELEASE & Launch Invitation - Darling Harvest Gin

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Mildura Community Water Bank Media Release 2 December 2021

Masterchef Top 4 Elise Pulbrook launches Darling Harvest Gin

A limited run of 200 bottles of Darling Harvest Gin will be released today to raise funds for the not-for-profit Mildura Community Water Bank.

The official launch will take place at Fosseys Distillery in Mildura on Thursday 2nd December at 5:30pm and will include an auction of the original label artwork by Kieran Mangan.

Elise Pulbrook, Board member of the Community Water Bank and top 4 contestant on Masterchef 2021, said “We wanted to find a way for people to support the Community Water Bank that is fun and enjoyable and at the same time raise awareness and consciousness of our precious river system.”

Biodynamic blood oranges and mandarins were generously donated by Nangiloc-based business Manna Farms and used as the base for the gin. “We spent two weeks experimenting with different combinations and strengths before settling on a recipe that we think really highlights the flavours of the citrus, is unique, and is delicious,” Ms Pulbrook said.

The Darling Harvest Gin was a combined effort from directors and friends, with the label design painted by local artist Kieran Mangan who donated his time, printing at cost price by Park Douglas Printing, and Fosseys Gin donating the premises to distil and bottle the gin. 

Community Water Bank Board member and Park Douglas Printing director Nick Smith said “As a local business there was no question that we were going to support this great project and I must confess it wasn’t hard as a gin lover to be involved. I don’t claim to be an expert in water so my involvement in the Community Water Bank is a really good way for me to learn. I’m born and bred in Mildura and the river is our lifeblood and I just think we should all be doing what we can to protect it. We wouldn’t be here without it.”

The Mildura Community Water Bank was established to support the farming independence of small scale farmers growing food for local food systems, including migrant and Indigenous farmers. Our Murray Darling is Australia’s largest river system and it accounts for over 40 per cent of Australia’s agricultural production.

Ms Pulbrook said, “It is our most sacred river system that connects us all and it is dying. Political and commercial interests are destroying a natural resource that should be accessible to all of us. By buying this bottle of gin you are helping small-scale farmers to keep growing food for their communities. Every bottle sold will help subsidise the cost of water for those farmers who don’t own water and are subject to the volatility of the water market.”

Contacts for further comment: Steve Timmis – 0400 819 198 | Elise Pulbrook – 0403 585 115

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Fossey’s at Sipafrolic 2023!

Fossey’s are super excited to be part of the Sipafrolic event debuting March 3rd-5th 2023 at North Melbourne’s iconic Meat Market venue! TICKETS NOW

MEDIA RELEASE – FOSSEY’S DISTILLERY WINS NINE MEDALS

9 awards for fossey's gin in 2021 with black background & 9 medals

Media Release - Fossey's Distillery wins NINE MEDALS

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On Friday October 1st The Australian Gin Awards released the results of their 2021 competition with Mildura’s very own Fossey’s Distillery bringing home 9 medals, including two GOLD MEDALS for their Navel Strength Gin and Navel Strength Gin Barrel Aged in Chardonnay.

Owner of Fossey’s Distillery Steve Timmis is absolutely thrilled with this year’s results.

“It’s amazing that this competition was able to go ahead at all this year. With ongoing border and lockdown issues and product coming in from all around Australia, and back out again to judges who had to do their tastings and scoring remotely this year, it was quite the effort.”

The Australian Gin Awards once again saw distilleries from all across the nation enter their products in the biggest Gin awards competition in Australia.

“The Australian Spirits industry is a fantastic thing to be apart of. Every year the industry grows, evolves and gets stronger in product development, quality and of course personality. We’re all mates in the distilling field, and it’s one of the most positive and supportive industries to be a part of. There’s a lot of big players in Australia with world renowned products so to go up against them in a competition such as this is always a bit daunting.”

During the Victorian lockdowns of 2020, Fossey’s Distillery undertook a “Covid Project” developing a Barrel Aged Gin Collection by taking a range of their Gin’s and aging them for various lengths of time in different types of barrel’s.

“This was a fantastic project for our distilling team to undertake during the lockdowns last year. It was something fun to do amongst all that was going on at the time, and to walk away with awards for 3 of these in particular has been truly rewarding.”

“We always talk about our Navel Strength Gin being our pride and joy,” continued Steve “so there was no question about including it in our Barrel Aged Gin collection. We let the Gin rest on an ex Chardonnay Barrel from the Barossa Valley and what we were left with is what we describe as a ‘little glass of sunshine’. We also teamed up with local winery Chalmer’s Estate and aged our Original Gin on their Aglianico Rose´ barrel. This is also one of our favourites too and we loved collaborating with the Chalmers crew, so we were absolutely stoked to receive a bronze medal for this one.”

In addition to the two Gold medals for their Navel Strength Gin’s, Fossey’s Distillery also took home Silver Medals for their Original Gin Barrel Aged on Redgum Rum, Shiraz Gin Barrel Aged on Shiraz and Shiraz Gin, plus Bronze Medals being awarded for the Original Gin Elixir, Original Gin Barrel Aged on Aglianico Rose, Frontignac and Kaffir Leaf Gin’s as well.

Fossey’s Distillery like all hospitality and tourism venues, has been at the mercy of ongoing Covid lockdowns and restrictions for the last 18 months and have one very simple message for everyone out there.

“Buy local, and buy direct.” says Steve.

“It doesn’t have to be from us, but locally whether that be in your own town or within Australia, we are all so spoilt for choice when it comes to high quality products. And buy direct. If you can order from a restaurant directly or from a producer or makers website rather than a third party platform, trust us, it will make their day.”

Fossey’s Distillery is now open again for patrons from 2pm every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 110 Eighth Street Mildura, or purchases can be made directly from their website with shipping Australia wide.  

END RELEASE

Media Contact: Cherie Gowers 0438512336 cherie@fosseysgin.com.au

bottle of Fossey's naval strength gin with black background

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What’s on in Mildura?

What's on in Mildura?

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What’s on in Mildura this weekend?

world whisky day at Fossey's this weekend

What's on in Mildura this Weekend?

world whisky day at Fossey's this weekend
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Now the weather has gotten a little colder, you may be asking “what’s on this weekend in Mildura?” 

Well Fossey’s has you covered this weekend with World Whisky Day on Saturday in the most whisky swilling way we know how.

Our Whisky, Wine & Fire event kicks off at 6pm on Saturday night at Fossey’s laneway and will absolutely be one to be remembered.

A stellar lineup of Premium Whiskies awaits you as we take you around the world in true Fossey’s style.
We’ll be making stops in
  • Japan 
  • Ireland 
  • America
  • Australia; &
  • Scotland 
Each dram unique, conversational and absolutely exquisite.
So hop on the Fossey’s err, bus? and allow us to take you on a trip around the globe with some of the most delicious drops of Whisky and 5 course degustation of scrumptious food.
Celebrate World Whisky Day at Fossey’s Distillery this weekend in Mildura! 

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Fossey’s are super excited to be part of the Sipafrolic event debuting March 3rd-5th 2023 at North Melbourne’s iconic Meat Market venue! TICKETS NOW

Best Places to Eat in Mildura

3 crumbed balls with salad on the side

Did you know your favourite distillery is now serving food?

And not just any food.

Glorious, funky & fabulous food!

Fossey’s is now one of the best places to eat in Mildura and of course, we would argue the number 1 on the best places to eat in Mildura list. 

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Mildura’s Fossey’s Distillery introduces Outback Moonshine this Easter Weekend

Media release:
MILDURA’S FOSSEY’S DISTILLERY INTRODUCES OUTBACK MOONSHINE THIS EASTER WEEKEND

Media Release

Mildura’s Fossey’s Distillery introduces Outback Moonshine this Easter Weekend.

Mildura’s very own Fossey’s Distillery has once again expanded their range, and this time it’s not just with a product but with a whole new brand.

With motivation from the great central Australian landscape with a slight nod to the origins of Moonshine culture, Fossey’s Distillery introduces Outback Moonshine.

A combination of spirits, Outback Moonshine brings to life a clear and high quality spirit that is (believe it or not) fresh, crisp and unique.

“Moonshine is certainly something on the up in Australian Spirits,” says Fossey’s Distillery owner Steve Timmis. “We’ve been having some fun with this product for a while now and although the stories of Moonshine are always associated with America, Australians are starting to have some ownership over this drop and are definitely making a version of it that is truly our own.”
 

Outback Moonshine is set to officially launch later in the year, however locals and visitors to Mildura over the Easter Weekend will be able to enjoy a glass of Moonshine at Fossey’s Distillery all weekend.

Open every single day over Easter, Thursday through to Monday from 12pm, Fossey’s will have live music, live distillation, all of the usual Fossey’s deliciousness and of course the newest addition Outback Moonshine will also be available both over the bar and for retail bottle sales.

 

Fossey’s welcomes everyone to pop in anytime over the Easter trading hours, however to secure your table bookings are recommended by calling (03) 50 228 290.

End Release

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Fossey’s at Sipafrolic 2023!

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Easter Weekend at Fossey’s

hot cross bun gin bottle with bunny, easter eggs and foilage

Easter Weekend at Fossey's

hot cross bun gin bottle with bunny, easter eggs and foilage
Open every single day over the Easter weekend, bring friends, family and your fabulous selves and enjoy all of your Fossey’s favourites from Thursday til Monday over Easter.

There’ll be live music EVERY DAY

Easter cocktails EVERY DAY

Delicious food EVERY DAY

Open from 12pm EVERY DAY

And live gin distillation, you guessed it, EVERY DAY!!!

Our fabulous line up of local live music every single day!
 
Thursday: Tyler Ball
Friday: Tiny Feet
Saturday: Old Dogs
Sunday: Iwan & Andrea
Monday: Penn & Natalija

What better way to enjoy an Easter in Mildura than at Fossey’s Distillery.

Come see what all the Foss is about.
 
For bookings please call 50 228 290
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Fossey’s at Sipafrolic 2023!

Fossey’s are super excited to be part of the Sipafrolic event debuting March 3rd-5th 2023 at North Melbourne’s iconic Meat Market venue! TICKETS NOW