Beech Mountain Distillery’s new bar is the gin to our tonic.
Beech Mountain Distillery’s new bar is the gin to our tonic.
If you’re partial to a gin and srsly, who isn’t, then we need to talk about Beech Mountain Gins. We’ve long been fan-girling over their bespoke, small batch spirits with distinctive native botanicals, and may or may not have popped into their Lower Beechmont distillery. Like, A.Lot. We’ve also enjoyed more than our quota of their glorious gins from their Gin Wagons at various markets and private soirees.
And now we’re staring down the barrel of a new era for Beech Mountain Distillery as they expand into the Pink Galah restaurant next door with their very own brand-spanking new bar and tasting booths. This means we now have a place to sit, sip and savour our fave drops and guys, it has all the makings of our new local – even though we’re not actual Lower Beechmont locals but details….
With a hugely popular soft launch this month, let the fun officially be-GIN. Plus there’s a big-bang grand opening locked and loaded for June to coincide with the distillery’s second birthday, and we wish someone would gift us a gin bar for our next lap around the sun…. The prohibition-era themed party will be the hottest ticket in town, and is sure to go off like a flapper doing the fox trot.
Managing Director, builder and interior designer of both the distillery and bar Clyde Watts certainly has a fitting mix of skills, with stints as an artist and carpenter working in the film and construction industries for 27 years. Similarly, Director and Master Distiller Julian Hoyle brings a background as a professional musician and 10 years as a distiller to the table bar, and we want to be a booze brewing muso when we grow up.
These two lads go back three decades, and we also have friendships this enduring which is heart-warmingly beautiful (insert happy tearful emoji), but also depressing AF (insert multiple granny emojis). After sampling one of Julian’s ten-outta-ten gins, Clyde asked his mate what he was hoping to do with his exceptional talents. When Julian replied he wanted to have his own distillery one day, Clyde decided his Lower Beechmont property was just the place. So, Julian packed up his life in Newcastle, shifted into Clyde’s studio and three years later, Beech Mountain Distillery was born. Booya!
Since day dot, this distillery dominating duo have wanted to be a part of the café/restaurant next door, and building the bar and tasting booths within Pink Galah has mutual benefits for both businesses #SupportLocal. Everyone’s a winner here, especially us because we now have an epic new venue nestled in the rolling hills of our gorgeous Gold Coast Hinterland.
The vibe and fit out is described as old-world Irish / English tavern meets a prohibition-era bar in an alternate reality, which kinda sounds like the plot for a new blockbuster film. There’s an indoor bar, private booth seating and dining room floor tables, outdoor garden seating, and a licensed café restaurant kitchen.
Inside has capacity for 60 bods, with another 80 outside which means many things, mainly Big.Party.Vibes. The friendly service and hospitality is the garnish on the drink, and just how we like the treatment from our hinterland haunts.
The seasonal cafe restaurant menu is just the thing to complement the bespoke, award-winning, artisan made gin and other alcoholic beverages. Our fave is the the Butterfly Chai cocktail, incorporating their exclusive Butterfly Pea Gin, house made Chai syrup, and naturally dyed coconut milk. And while you’re there, pick up a bottle of two of the smokey Siberian Route Gin (Silver Medalist – 2022 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards), Strawberry Gum Eucalyptus Olida Gin and The Swashbuckler – Navy Strength Gin (both bronze medallists at the 2022 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards).
So trust your gin-tuition (and our advice) and add the new bar at Beech Mountain Distillery to your must-visit list. And remember: Drink responsibly – Don’t spill any.
Where: 707 Beechmont Road Lower, Beechmont
When: 3pm – late Wednesday to Friday & 11am – 10pm Saturday & Sunday. Closed Monday & Tuesday.
Words by Bianca Trathen.
Images by Carly Snodgrass.