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!
