The South Australian spirits industry has undergone a remarkable transformation in the past decade – and one local distiller is leading the way.
When David Danby and his team at Imperial Measures Distilling (IMD) launched in 2014, they were part of a small vanguard of craft distillers in South Australia. A decade later, they’re leaders of the state’s booming spirits industry.
The Thebarton-based company was the standout brand at the 2024 Tasting Australia Spirit Awards, where they won five of the 11 awards on offer – including Best Distiller and the Premier’s Spirit Award. In fact, SA dominated the awards night for yet another year in a row, with local distilleries taking out a further three awards.
David says it’s great to be acknowledged in Australia, and he’s especially glad to see IMD’s first whisky get a nod in the national awards. This single malt whisky, aged in Oloroso, Port and Muscat casks, represents a new chapter for the distillery. “The Ounce Whisky has been a years-long project, originally started in 2021,” he says. “We babied this product a lot … and it’s a wonderful product that we’re exceptionally happy with.”
IMD’s Tasting Australia wins mirror the success they’ve achieved on the global awards stage. The distiller has won over 50 gold medals and awards so far, including the elusive Double Gold at the world-renowned San Francisco World Spirit Competition – twice.
The spirit state: Where it began
South Australia has a long history of premium distilling. St Agnes is Australia’s oldest continually-run craft distillery, creating artisan brandy, gin and whisky on the banks of the River Murray since 1910.
Kangaroo Island Spirits, where David learnt his craft, was Australia’s first dedicated gin distillery when it was founded on Kangaroo Island in 2006.
When David founded IMD in 2014, “no one else was doing it, so it was very exciting. We were really part of the first wave of people to get hold of what was going on and start the industry on the small scale.”
SA’s spirit industry boom
IMD has been a leader in the recent astronomical growth of the South Australian spirits industry. Since 2013, the number of distilleries in the state has grown from eight to more than 100. ABS data shows the SA spirit industry had an export value of $26.6m in the year ending May 2023, representing about 12 per cent of Australia’s spirit exports.
David attributes much of this success to the collaborative nature of the local industry. “Jon Lark, the original owner of Kangaroo Island Spirits, very much instilled into me that if there’s an industry going to get going properly and burgeoning, we need to support one another heavily,” he says.
Distillers South Australia: A story of industry cooperation
This spirit of cooperation inspired David and George Georgiadis of Never Never Distilling to lead the charge in establishing Distillers South Australia, the peak industry body dedicated to supporting and advocating for local producers.
Distillers South Australia recently received a $50,000 grant from the State Government to develop an export strategy for SA’s distillers to enter new markets, build on existing partnerships and create jobs.
The local sector is tipped to grow to 2,300 direct jobs by 2031, up from an estimated 600 people in 2022.
Sustainability: A core value
As our spirits industry continues to mature, distillers like IMD are focusing on sustainability as a core value. Distillers South Australia is currently developing a strategy to support the industry to go green, thanks to a $100,000 state government grant.
David emphasises his company’s commitment to doing “the right things for the right reasons,” which extends to their approach to sustainability.
“We definitely have always had a bent for the sustainability side of things. We don’t ram it down people’s throats… It’s kind of us just being the way we are,” David says. This approach to sustainability means their operations have a focus on recycling, reusing and limiting waste everywhere possible.
This ethos is most obviously reflected in their packaging choices, with beautiful bottles designed to be reusable after the labels are removed.
A home for spirits: IMD’s Thebarton experience
Imperial Measures Distilling’s home in Thebarton is more than just a production facility – it’s a destination for spirit enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.
At the heart of this experience is Ounce Bar, IMD’s on-site venue that functions as a fully-operational bar and tasting room. As well as its impressive cocktail menu, there’s also a selection of wines and beer on tap. Ounce Bar has also gained a reputation for its gourmet burgers, with a chef who creates a different special every week.
The venue also hosts live music events every Sunday from 2-5pm, featuring top local and interstate musicians. “We’re very supportive of the live music industry,” David says. “It means a lot to us.”
A trail to raise your spirits
For those looking to explore beyond IMD, the distillery is a key stop on the SA Distillery Trail, curated by Distillers SA. This trail offers spirit enthusiasts a curated journey through South Australia’s finest distilleries, with exclusive discounts and unique experiences available to those who mention the trail during their visit.
