Pechey Distilling Co.
Nestled into the High Country, north of Toowoomba, Pechey Distilling is a bespoke gin and vodka distillery; a family affair, born from a history of moonshining and a passion for artisan spirits.
03 November 2023
Photography: @danielsomervaille
It was a night in 2018, after a few gins, that Ben and his father John had the 'crazy idea' of starting a distillery.
"We were looking at ways to ensure the future of the homestead and the rare remnant native vine thicket that surrounds it", Ben explains.
John Pechey, pouring their famous ‘Homestead Gin’ during one of their distillery-door tastings.
The idea snowballed into plans and approvals and construction, and a few years later, in 2020, Pechey Distilling Co. was open.
Like many farmers, Ben tells of how his grandfather Ron "had done a bit of moonshining in his time", fermenting grapes from the Homestead vines and distilling it off in an old copper water heater.
His grandmother Shirley was a lifelong whiskey lover. So it is probably fair to say that spirits were in their DNA and a sub-conscious driver for what would happen next.
The Pechey family had been in the region since 1858, when Ben's great-great grandfather Edward Wilmot Pechey arrived as a surveyor; then prompty decided to venture into timber milling instead; his sawmill within walking distance of where the Homestead is today.
Interestingly, Edward had a lasting impact on Toowoomba as we know it today, helping to found Toowoomba Grammar and the Chamber of Commerce, and serving as the first member of QLD Parliment for Aubigny, the region north of Toowoomba.
It was his son Alfred Pechey who went on to become a farmer and built the homestead in 1921. After the second world war, Ben's grandparents Ron & Shirley made the farm their home, farming beef and pork, and running a dairy. The original cream shed (above) now has a new life as home for their still.
These days Ben works as their Chief Distiller at Pechey Distilling Co. Here with a bottle of their High Country Hooch Vodka.
Today, Ben serves as the Chief Distiller at Pechey Distilling Co., having discovered his passion for artisan and craft distilling.
"The beauty of distilling is that it is truly the fusion of science and art. The art is in finding the combinations of flavour that balance to make an exceptional spirit that delights the taster. The science is in guiding the fermentation and distilling process to consistently deliver this experience" Ben explains.
"Our inspiration is the world-class produce we find locally in our region. Every product features a local component and we are also very privileged to collaborate with the best local restaurants and bars to create signature gins for them."
"At the heart though, our passion comes from the experience that people have when they taste our spirits. We are very proud of the number of people who leave our distillery door with a newly discovered love for gin."
With an already wide range of signature gins and vodkas, plus other notable releases like their Irish heritage moonshine (known as Poitín), their annual winter release High Country Hooch, and their regular (stunning) Art x Gin bottle collaborations featuring local artists - you might think that Pechey has already achieved a lot in a very short time. But Ben and John already have big plans for what's next.
"We are right in the middle of building and commissioning the Darling Down’s first whisky distillery, with a beautiful Australian-made copper still being installed. Many different grains are produced right here on the Downs, and we are excited to celebrate this with local-origin terroir whisky", Ben explains.
"Some patience is needed though, our first whisky release is expected for early 2026."
Stay tuned.
In the meantime, for the gin & vodka lovers among us, Pechey offers tasting experiences at their distillery door at the Homestead each weekend, where they'll guide you through a tasting of their spirits and share some of the stories behind them.
You can also find them at likes of Cork & Lever, Myrtille Bistro, Rosalie House, 4 Brothers, Mouse Proof, Monty’s and Mackenzie Row Cellars, or fortnightly at the Toowoomba Farmer’s Markets.
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