The Story Behind Our New Bottles

Keeping the Flowers, Growing the Legacy

At Tamborine Mountain Distillery, every bottle tells a story. Not just about what we distil here on Tamborine Mountain, but about who we are, where we began, and the hands that shaped us. As we introduce our redesigned 700ml bottle, we wanted to share that journey.

Where It All Began – Paintbrush in Hand

In the early days, co-founder Alla Svetlana Ward did something extraordinary. With her Ukrainian heritage, she brought art into the world of Australian craft spirits. Alla is an artist, musician, distiller and painter, and she hand-painted every single bottle with intricate Ukrainian folk flowers.

Each bottle was unique. She could paint around thirty bottles an hour, and didn’t stop at glass — pots, windows, doors, tables — the distillery itself became her canvas.

The flowers were inspired by traditional Ukrainian folk art. In Ukrainian culture, floral motifs symbolise life, joy, protection and prosperity. They weren’t just decoration; they were expressions of spirit and celebration. Those flowers became our signature.

Balancing Art and Growth

As the distillery grew, so did demand. Alla couldn’t keep up with painting every bottle by hand, and as the years passed, the task became even harder. Hand-painted bottles also couldn’t be commercially washed or reused without damage, which conflicted with our sustainability goals.

About ten years ago, we made a careful decision. We preserved one of Alla’s original artworks and carefully transferred the design onto the bottle, setting it permanently into the glass. The flowers remained true to the original painting — durable, recyclable, and still full of heart.

The 375ml Coloured Bottle – A Modern Classic

For the past decade, our 375ml coloured bottle has proudly carried these signature flowers, delicately transferred onto the glass and made to last. Customers recognise it instantly. It stands out on shelves, in bars, and in restaurants. It reflects both our artistic beginnings and our commitment to sustainable production.

Introducing Our New 700ml Bottle – Heritage in a Larger Format

We previously offered a few 700ml bottles with labels painted by local artists to represent individual flavours. They were beautiful and unique, but with over 80 drinks in our range, we couldn’t give every flavour the same treatment.

We wanted our larger bottles to feel as iconic as our 375ml coloured bottles — carrying our signature Ukrainian floral design. It wasn’t just about increasing the size; it was about keeping the heart of our heritage intact.

So, we brought the same floral design from our 375ml bottles onto the new larger bottles, preserving the detail, texture, and spirit of the original painting. To make it even more special, the back of each larger bottle features one of Alla’s original flower designs that hasn’t appeared on any other bottles. A subtle nod to her artistry and the story of our distillery.

► Explore our full range of 700ml bottles here.