Presenting a series of Sunday's showcasing the stories from Wine, Beer & Spirits of the Fleurieu.

These are reproduced with permission from Soul Publishing and Rojina Duval.

These stories feature prominent farmers, fishermen, producers and chefs – from Port Noarlunga to Cape Jervis – along with their favourite recipes and tips. Enjoy!

Martin Distillation Company is a privately owned distillery, which has recently begun producing spirits for the retail market.

“Our initial focus has been on the clear spirits such as gin and vodka, but we are now moving into laying down barrelled spirits such as whisky and rum for future release,” says Jenny Martin, who co-runs MDC with her partner, PhD chemist David Martin.

“David has been making beer and wine from a young age and initially wanted to acquire a vineyard. Looking at the region, however, we felt that particular market was already saturated. At the time there were very few distilleries, so we thought we would try that instead.

Martin Distillation Company was founded in 2014, with its first production in 2016. All its products are sold under the Mount Compass Spirits banner. “We wanted to operate a distillery from a location we owned,” says Jenny. “With our limited resources, Mount Compass gave us a site big enough to start and hopefully expand in the future. The added bonus is being able to source some truly excellent produce from literally around the corner. 

“These days we’re involved in all aspects of running the business, so some days it’s paperwork, others it’s playing with flavours,” says Jenny. “No two days are the same, so it keeps things interesting. Ultimately, the biggest thrill is somebody saying that your product is great. That’s what you aim for and it’s really nice when you know you’ve achieved it.”

CELLAR DOOR

Martin Distillation Company currently does not operate a cellar door, but its products are available at the local Mount Compass Tavern.

ADDRESS Lot 3 Sand Mine Road, Mount Compass

WEBSITE

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