About Tamborine Mountain Distillery

Tamborine Mountain Distillery is Australia's most awarded distillery and liquor brand, renowned for its exceptional range of boutique liqueurs and spirits.

Old Tamborine Mountain Distillery on Beacon Road

A Legacy of Excellence

Founded in 1993 as a family-owned business, pioneering the Queensland Craft Distilling industry, Tamborine Mountain Distillery collected over 300 international awards, and was the first Distillery granted a licence by the State Government in over 100 years.

This family distillery began when Michael and Alla Svetlana Ward moved from Tasmania to their property on Beacon Road, Tamborine Mountain. The property, once a neglected citrus and avocado orchard, was transformed by Michael, a passionate gardener, who personally planted every tree.

With an abundance of excess fruit available, Alla Ward, the founding master distiller with Ukrainian heritage, envisioned crafting exceptional schnapps, vodkas, liqueurs, and eaux de-vie using the property's crops. The inaugural product, our Citrus Brandy Liqueur named 'Bells of Saint Clements,' became our first-ever brandy liqueur made at the Distillery.

Tamborine Mountain Distillery aerial view

After their retirement in 2017, new custodians Gordon Chalmers and Dr. Shumei Hou took charge with a clear vision of expanding this distinguished brand both nationally and internationally. Their commitment to preserving the distillery's rich heritage is evident through the careful relocation and renovation of an old Brewery site on Tamborine Mountain's famed Gallery Walk. While adopting modernised methods, they've maintained the essence of their heritage by preserving traditional processes. Their efforts have propelled the Distillery's reputation to new heights, earning consecutive Gold awards at the Queensland Tourism Awards in 2022 and 2023.

Our Head Distiller

Gordon Chalmers, Tamborine Mountain Distillery's Head Distiller, is the driving force behind our exceptional craft. He is an industry leader with a wealth of knowledge and experience in botanical distillations. Combining post-graduate degrees in both Technology and Business, he has developed expertise in industrial automation and process control within the food and beverage industries.

Gordon Chalmers handling the reflux still

He has pioneered the innovative use of Australian botanicals in alcoholic and wellness applications, championed sustainable manufacturing practices, and earned international recognition. Today, his skills and passion craft the award-winning Liqueurs and Spirits that define the distillery's success.