COVID lockdown witnessed many enterprising people trying new skills or projects they had always wanted to have a go at and Craig Lucas is one of those.
He began distilling gin and other spirits as a hobby during COVID and soon established Bancroft Bay Distillery.
Craig and Sally have bought a property in Metung, but still live in Melbourne during the week until they are able to come down permanently. This has not stopped them using everything local in their products and they have big plans to build a distillery on their Metung property.
“When I first started this project there were no other distilleries in East Gippsland and we saw it as a good opportunity for Metung,” Craig said.
“Whispers spread at what we were doing and the community could not have been more encouraging and supportive. We now have our product in all the stores and restaurants with The Local in Metung being the first to take us on.
“Our gin is now served at Sodafish, Sardine and The Central Hotel and bottle shops among many others. It is also offered at Farmers Daughter, which is a restaurant in Collins Street, Melbourne, that offers all produce from Gippsland.”
The big news is Bancroft Bay Distillery has just been awarded a gold medal in the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards as part of Melbourne Royal Show.
“These are the most prestigious awards in Australia for spirits with 840 entries. We won the gold for our Chinaman’s Creek Gin and also three bronze for our Shaving Point, Mosquito Point Agave and The Commodore which is a navy strength gin. Most of our gins are named after things around Metung,” Craig said.
“We collaborate with East Gippsland producers including Tambo Valley Honey, pears from Cassilis, Errinundra lemon myrtle and mountain pepper berry. Also, Marmi Made marmalade and olives, we use the skins of the orange and they use the oranges for their jam.
“A big shout out to all the local community that give us lemons, we are so happy to use them and not see them lying on the ground under a tree. We even have had kumquats given to us, it just shows that people really want to support us,” Craig said.
Bancroft Bay is at the Metung Farmers Market held on the second Saturday of the month. They offer tastings and are always up for a chat about their products.
