The Broken Hill Distillery has added more awards to its glittering trophy shelf after it was recognised three times at the 2023 World Gin Awards and is in with a chance of being named best gin worldwide.
The local distillery, next to the Tydvil on Thomas St, is very much a family affair with Paul, Eric, Heidi and Shane Hanna all part owners, along with Steve Timms.
The local tendrils stretch even further with Dinny Readon, Wayne Murray and Jason Bacot all ambassadors for the award-winning drop.
The latest triumph follows the success the distillery tasted in 2022 with their wildly successful Gunpowder Gin. Not a bad effort for a “couple of old boys sitting on the corner trying their best,” said distiller and part owner, Paul Hanna.
“It’s awesome,” Mr Hanna said of the success so far this year.
At this year’s Gin Awards, the distillery won a gold medal for best Australian Contemporary Gin for its Far West Gin. It was a finalist in the gold medal category and was later announced the Australian winner. The gin is now in with a chance to be named the world’s best. News on that will be revealed on February 23.
“It’s hard to describe. It hasn’t sunk in yet. I don’t think it will sink in until the World Awards and we’ll see how we go against the other 33 contestants around the world,” Mr Hanna told us.
When we asked Mr Hannah what he thought of the chances of the BHD winning the world award, he played a very straight bat. “One in 33,” he deadpanned.
There was more gold with the distillery’s Outback Strength Gin named the best Navy Strength gin in the country. A navy strength gin must be at least 57% alcohol by volume (ABV).
“We got that one, which was great. It’s a very refreshing gin. We set it at 60% so we don’t have to dilute it out the barrel. It’s a lovely citrus flavour and the judges picked up on that.”
And Remembrance Gin, which is limited to 150 bottles a year, with 50% of the proceeds from each bottle going to Legacy Foundation, and packaged as Rosemary, Rivermint & Wattleseed Gin in their Spirit of the Outback range, won the silver medal for Australian Signature Botanical Gin.
“It’s all about getting the good work Legacy do out there as well,” said Mr Hanna. “And now their gin is silver medal on the world stage, which is pretty amazing.”
Last year the BHD donated $10,000 to Legacy, and hope to donate even more this year with 250 bottles of the Remembrance Gin to be made available.
We tried to find out what gin they had in the works for 2024.
“It’s a bit of a secret at the moment,” says Mr Hanna.
“We’ve got our botanical supplier digging deep to see what we’ve got out there. We are looking at something special for the end of the year.”
