The inaugural Spirit On The Murray festival, hosted by Echuca Distillery and supported by Campaspe Shire Council and Murray Regional Tourism, will take place at Radcliffe’s Echuca on September 6 and 7.
Echuca Distillery head distiller Peter De Vries said the event aimed to highlight local craft spirits.
“We are working with the council to create an event that brings people into town, to spend the weekend in Echuca,” he said.
“It is to support Victorian craft distilleries, raise visibility and show people the wonderful products our state can produce and the wide range of products.
“As far as the quality of the product goes, they are all world-class spirits that we are producing and often don’t get the visibility they deserve.”
The Saturday program features an 18-plus ticketed tasting event with two 2.5-hour sessions.
“You come in and have a free tasting of spirits, all included in the ticket,” Mr De Vries said.
“It is like a market set-up where you can go around the stalls, talk to the distillers, taste their product, and purchase bottles if you like.”
A morning masterclass will precede the tasting sessions, featuring four leading Victorian distillers discussing whisky, rum, gin and brandy production.
“These are all big names, heads of their fields, the owners and head distillers of their own distilleries, talking about gin, rum, whisky, talking about where the Australian craft spirits industry is heading,” Mr De Vries said.
Sunday’s program, held on Father’s Day, offers free entry to a family-friendly producers’ market, featuring local food and beverage producers alongside spirit makers.
The event will showcase regional products, including cheese, olive oils, home-baked goods, honey and wine.
Tickets for the Saturday masterclass and tasting sessions are available at spiritonthemurray.com.au
