Dharawal Distilling Co uses native botanicals in its spirits. Photos: Supplied.
Mitch Lowrie is shaking up the spirits scene with Dharawal Distilling Co — a Bellambi-based distillery blending Aboriginal culture and community-led foraging of native botanicals into premium gin and vodka with a powerful story behind every sip.
The company was founded in 2023 and Mitch creates vodkas and gins using a network of Aboriginal foragers to source distinctive botanical ingredients from the South Coast, with additional produce collected exclusively from Indigenous businesses.
He said the distillery’s approach went beyond creating premium spirits – it was about connecting land, culture and community.
As a Wiradjuri man who grew up on Dharawal country and with 20 years of experience working with Aboriginal communities in education, he said it was important the business supported Indigenous communities.
“How we differ from other distilleries is we actually use the local Aboriginal community to forage for native ingredients on Dharawal country, which is then put into our gins and vodkas and put out there to showcase to the world,” he said.
“Basically, I have a group of foragers who are from all over the area, and I give them free rein to find what they can find in the native sense.
“Obviously we can’t get everything all year round, so in that case we source it through Aboriginal businesses throughout Australia.
“We’re trying to create a bit of a circular economy across the whole thing.”
Among the ingredients are weeping grass, strawberry gum, lemon aspen, juniper, coriander seed, orris root, angelica root, and cinnamon myrtle.
Supported by a master distiller to create the vodka and gin line, he admitted that learning the process from scratch meant there were a “lot more failures than successes along the way”.
However, Mitch said the business had rapidly expanded since, securing placement in 30 bars and pubs across Sydney and the Illawarra and being chosen as a “first pour” choice at many venues.
He said the brand had also just been approved for duty-free sales at international airports in Queensland and was in discussions with Qantas about potential partnerships.
The craft gin created for NAIDOC Week.
Future plans include creating immersive tourism experiences where visitors can see the process and understand Dharawal country’s rich cultural heritage.
“The dream is to have an experience where people can forage for ingredients themselves, see the whole distilling process, access a cellar door and we can showcase what we do around these parts,” he said.
It’s also now on the radar of major food festivals, along with the new Horizontal Festival in Bowral in October.
He said the business collaborated with Aboriginal artists for bottle designs, with one of its latest being for a NAIDOC Week release craft gin with the artwork “Ngaramura” (meaning see the way) by Aboriginal artist Kane Wright.
“It’s a way to showcase them, as well as culture,” he said.
“Kane also just did the NRL Dragons’ Indigenous round jersey, so we’re pretty lucky to get him before he gets too famous,” he said, laughing.
Mitch said the goal was not just selling alcohol, but respectfully presenting Aboriginal culture and creating economic opportunities for Indigenous communities.
“The spirits are great, and it’s top-shelf, really nice liquid, but the real showpiece is the story we can sell about showcasing what Aboriginal people have done for upwards and over 60,000 years through foraging and finding that now in a modern way,” he said.
“Blending science with traditional practices is what we’re trying to do.
“We’re trying to put Aboriginal people on the right side of the table when it comes to hospitality and drinks and alcohol.
“I’ve had some of the most prominent Aboriginal community members from Dharawal country support us and that support has been huge.”
A Supply Nation certified business, meaning it’s supported by Aboriginal businesses and communities, he said he wanted to look at expanding into carbonated spritz drinks.
He said among the ready-to-drink cans would be offerings such as strawberry gum vodka, finger lime and soda, and lemon myrtle cello.
Learn more about Dharawal Distilling Co.
