Western Australia is home to about 90 distillers, and the State Government hopes to expand the export market. Photo: Olga Kochina.
Western Australia is investing in its spirits sector with the creation of its first-ever Distilling Strategy.
The Western Australian Distilling Strategy 2025-30 was revealed to the industry at the Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards. The strategy focuses on boosting brand recognition and increasing sales threefold over the next five years.
The strategy breaks new ground for Western Australia and has been developed with the industry, with the Australian Distillers Association and WA Distillers Guild as the lead stakeholder groups. The strategy also received support from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
The strategy identified four priority areas as crucial to the sector’s development:
- Collaboration and supportive policy between industry and government;
- Industry development;
- Promotion of WA spirits on both a national and international scale;
- Accessing domestic and export markets.
“Western Australia’s distilling industry embodies the innovation, quality, and entrepreneurial spirit that define our state’s economic future,” Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said.
“The strategy builds on the momentum of this exciting emerging industry, and will support local businesses to grow and diversify, capture new markets and create jobs.”
The spirits sector contributes to the Western Australian hospitality and tourism industries, diversifying the state’s economy and providing jobs and tax revenue. There are about 90 distillers in the state, half of which are based in the regions.
More than 75 per cent of these 90 distillers produce gin, followed by vodka, whiskey, premixed spirits, limoncello, rum, brandy and other spirits.
WA distillers have a local, artisan approach, with more than 90 per cent reporting they use local ingredients, particularly the state’s unique botanicals.
The strategy’s launch follows the WA Craft Beer and Spirits Innovation Trade Showcase, held earlier this year in Perth, and works alongside the government’s Western Australian Craft Beer Strategy.
“The strategy highlights our collective ambition and showcases WA’s potential to become a global leader for premium spirits,” Western Australian Distillers Guild president James Young said.
“We look forward to working with industry and government to bring its vision to life.”
The strategy can be viewed on the government’s website.
