Antipodes Gin was born when two best mates of 25 years, with a shared love of gin, decided they wanted to produce their own drop. Shane Reid, Adelaide-based commercial photographer and Melbournian, Rory Gration, a long time food industry professional, hatched a plan to produce Australia’s first certified organic and carbon neutral gin.

They first started talking about making a gin together about three years ago, but in 2015 on Australia Day, they finally bit the bullet and registered the business, The Antipodes Gin Company.
Shane and Rory grew up together in Mildura. Now, living in two different cities with busy lives and young families, they wanted to create something they could enjoy together with friends and family. They wanted it to embody flavours that they feel are quintessentially Australian and that reflect their journey as Australians.

Both men grew up in the country’s citrus belt, Sunraysia, so of course sweet orange peel and lemon oil flavours feature prominently, as well as native lemon myrtle. Shane and Rory are passionate cooks and a longtime staple of both their kitchens – Tasmanian pepper berry – also features. All this sits alongside the essential Juniper berry hit.

“Getting organic certification and being carbon neutral was a mindful decision for us, we wanted our business to have less impact on the environment, to promote sustainability and we also wanted to work alongside like-minded, ethically motivated suppliers. Being Australian Certified Organic means that as a business, we are continually working smarter. Certification has challenged us to think carefully about every practice and process in our business and to make sure that everything we do is beneficial on a number of levels.”