Meet the Maker: Gordon Chalmers
Behind the Craft at Tamborine Mountain Distillery
Behind every bottle at Tamborine Mountain Distillery is a combination of craftsmanship, experimentation, and decades of distilling history on Tamborine Mountain.
In this Meet the Maker interview, we talk with Head Distiller Gordon Chalmers about the journey that brought him to the distillery, the challenges of running a craft distillery in the Queensland hinterland, the inspiration behind some of our Australian gins and liqueurs, and the different techniques involved in creating our range of spirits.
Meet Gordon Chalmers, Head Distiller at Tamborine Mountain Distillery
What did you do before becoming Head Distiller at Tamborine Mountain Distillery?
For over thirty years, I was involved in senior roles in the process control and automation space, across industries ranging from food and beverage to organic skincare.
I won international awards for my work in green formulation, and much of that experience has been put to good use in developing the distillation systems we have built here on Tamborine Mountain.
What have been your biggest challenges and greatest successes?
Building Tamborine Mountain Distillery into the multi-faceted business it is today has certainly been one of the greatest successes.
Along the way, we have had to weather some real storms, including the challenges of the global COVID pandemic, which had an enormous impact on international tourism and export markets.
We also faced the challenge of developing distillation systems and production facilities without access to town water or council-supplied sewage treatment.
Sustainability has consequently played an important role in how we operate. We have invested in systems including solar power generation, allowing us to produce renewable energy and return excess power to the grid.
The Inspiration Behind Our Australian Gins
How would you describe Lilly Pilly Gin in three words?
The Gold Standard!
What inspired the Ginger & Rhubarb Gin and Davidson Plum Gin?
Ginger and rhubarb are a very popular combination in the UK, and both ingredients grow here on Tamborine Mountain.
Davidson plum was a natural extension of the liqueur range we pioneered in Australia over the preceding decades. It is a wonderful Australian rainforest fruit that has allowed us to create several different drinks around its distinctive flavour.
How We Distill Our Liqueurs and Spirits
Can you tell us more about the distillation process?
With such a diverse range of liqueurs and spirits, we use many different techniques throughout the fermenting, steeping and distillation stages of production.
No two drinks necessarily follow the same production pathway.
We have also designed a large dual-heated copper reflux still that gives us the flexibility to produce a wide variety of spirits and liqueurs.
That ability to adapt the production method to the individual drink is an important part of what we do.
Gordon's Favourite Way to Enjoy TMD Gin
What's your favourite way to drink Tamborine Mountain Distillery gin?
I love the Ginger & Rhubarb Gin because I can drink it on its own as a spicy ginger spirit or pair it with tonic water for a classic English-style G&T.
Visiting Tamborine Mountain Distillery
How would you describe the experience of visiting the distillery?
There is a great deal of history here, from the story of the distillery and its founders to the diverse backgrounds of the people who have been part of it.
Visitors can discover our extensive collection of spirits and liqueurs, explore the Apothecary-style museum, learn about fermentation and distillation, and enjoy the rainforest setting here on Tamborine Mountain.
It's that combination of history, craftsmanship, flavour, and a little quirkiness that makes the experience different.
The Future of Tamborine Mountain Distillery
What's next for Tamborine Mountain Distillery?
We continue to explore Australian botanicals and locally grown fruits as inspiration for new drinks.
Education and experiences are another important part of our future, with opportunities for visitors to learn more about distilling, gin, vodka, and the craftsmanship that goes into creating spirits and liqueurs.
A Distiller's Story Rooted in Tamborine Mountain
Gordon's journey from process control and green formulation to distilling demonstrates something that sits at the heart of Tamborine Mountain Distillery: traditional craft doesn't have to stand still.
Technical knowledge, experimentation, Australian botanicals and the distinctive environment of Tamborine Mountain all play a part in what we create.
And while you can discover our spirits in the bottle, visiting the distillery offers something more — the opportunity to see where they're made, learn about the processes behind them, and experience the history of Tamborine Mountain Distillery firsthand.
► VISIT TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gordon Chalmers?
Gordon Chalmers is Head Distiller at Tamborine Mountain Distillery in Queensland. His background in process control, automation and green formulation has influenced the development of the distillery's production systems and approach to creating spirits and liqueurs.
Where is Tamborine Mountain Distillery?
Tamborine Mountain Distillery is located on Tamborine Mountain in the Gold Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia. Visitors can discover the distillery's spirits and liqueurs while learning more about its history and distilling processes.
What does Tamborine Mountain Distillery make?
Tamborine Mountain Distillery creates a diverse range of spirits and liqueurs, including gin, vodka, fruit liqueurs, citrus liqueurs and drinks inspired by Australian native fruits and botanicals.
What Australian native ingredients does Tamborine Mountain Distillery use?
Australian native ingredients used across the distillery's range include fruits and botanicals such as Davidson plum and lilly pilly. Native Australian flavours are an important source of inspiration for the development of new spirits and liqueurs.
Can you visit Tamborine Mountain Distillery?
Yes. Tamborine Mountain Distillery welcomes visitors to Tamborine Mountain, where they can discover the range of spirits and liqueurs and learn more about the history and craft behind the distillery.
