Melbourne-based The Gospel Distillers has announced the launch of new rye whiskey range – the first of its kind to use 100% Australian ingredients and be hand-crafted and produced at scale.
Produced using single-source unmalted rye from the Murray Mallee region in South Australia, it follows a growing trend for the uptake of rye-based spirits being consumed in Australia, which is now the second-largest bourbon market in the world.
Four years in the making, The Gospel comes from the same distilling duo that created boutique hooch brand, Melbourne Moonshine. The Gospel will launch first with a Solera Rye – a blend of multiple batches, processed through a bespoke Solera system in a combination of New American Oak and Australian Wine Barrels – and later with a Straight Rye Whiskey, both made in American style.
The Brunswick-based distillery has been designed and constructed by The Gospel founders, Ben Bowles and Andrew Fitzgerald, and is the largest whiskey distillery in Australia, capable of producing five barrels of whiskey blend per shift.
‘’It has been a long road to creating The Gospel but the results speak for themselves,” said Ben Bowles, co-founder of The Gospel Distillers, who grew up in South Carolina.
“What we’ve created is a unique blend of American style combined with 100% Australian ingredients and production‘’ ‘’It’s a particularly exciting time to be producing in Australia with the growing popularity and demand for rye spirits.
‘’With our Solera Rye, we wanted to create a ‘sessionable’ whiskey – something that can be enjoyed again and again and is available to everyone. We envision it as the drink of the summer, served with dry ginger ale and a slice of orange. The spice & creme caramel flavours work well in the bartender classics like an Old Fashioned or a Sazerac.’’
The first official tastings of The Gospel Solera Rye (42.5% ABV) will take place during Sydney Bar Week at the Indie Spirits session (September 15, Restaurant Hubert) and will be available in trade, distributed by Vanguard Luxury Brands, from September 16.
The Gospel Rye Whiskey (45% ABV) is set for release in early 2020.
