THE COLOUR-CHANGING AUSSIE GIN THAT’S HAVING THE PARTY OF THE DECADE

The OG colour-changing spirit is celebrating ten years of turning ordinary cocktails into little magic tricks

If your bar cart looks a little tired and your festive drinks taste like déjà vu, it’s time to meet the gin that refuses to be boring.

Ink Gin, Australia’s OG colour-changing spirit, is celebrating ten years of turning ordinary cocktails into little magic tricks, and it is doing it with more personality than half the people at your Christmas lunch.

Born in a farm shed, powered by botanicals and sheer Aussie stubbornness, Ink Gin has pulled off what most of us secretly want: global fame without selling out.

IT ALL STARTED WITH A MIDLIFE MOMENT OF GENIUS

The Ink story reads like every hipster distiller’s fantasy, except this one is actually true. In a tin shed tucked between Northern Rivers cane fields, biochemist Paul Messenger decided rum wasn’t enough.

While wandering Southeast Asia, he came across butterfly pea tea that colour-shifted when touched by acidity, and something clicked.

He returned home, planted five tiny seeds, waited three years, and crafted a gin infused with sun-dried flowers and native botanicals, such as lemon myrtle and Tasmanian pepperberry.

The result was a deep indigo gin that morphs into soft pink the moment it meets tonic, a magic trick in a glass.

Of course, not everyone was ready for a good time. When Paul presented it to a sales rep, the feedback was classic:

“It tastes great… but gin is supposed to be clear.” His response? “Who says?”

Honestly, put that on a T-shirt.

FROM A BACKYARD EXPERIMENT TO A SPIRITS REVOLUTION

Ink helped turn the world’s gin market into a technicolour show. What started as hand-bottling in a shed has become an independent Australian gin empire, with over 1.1 million bottles sold and exports to seven countries.

International brands followed the trend Paul set, but Ink stayed true to its roots: family-owned, fiercely local and always a little cheeky.

Paul’s daughter, Harriet, captures it perfectly: “We have always done things our way. Ink broke all the rules at the time and was met with resistance from some of the stuffier industry stalwarts.

But there is no reason gin has to be clear, and the quality and beauty of Ink speaks for itself. It’s not just a gin, it’s a joy to experience.”

FAMILY BUSINESS THAT REFUSED TO PLAY IT SAFE

From those five seeds, Ink grew into Husk Farm Distillery, now one of Australia’s most-loved spirits destinations. The brand’s evolution was powered not by tradition, but by curiosity and chaos in equal measure.

Paul admits the journey still amazes him: “Sometimes I look back and can’t quite believe how far we’ve come, from five seeds in the backyard in Brisbane to creating a whole new category of colourful gin.

"Our complete lack of experience in the drinks industry meant we didn’t have any hang-ups about breaking the rules or category norms. That spirit is still at the heart of everything we do.”

THE NEXT TEN YEARS: COLOURFUL & CREATIVE

The Messengers aren’t slowing down. Harriet says, “The next ten years are about building on what we’ve founded. There are new stories to tell and new horizons to reach.

"We believe that Ink has the potential to become a timeless brand, one that will outlive us all. We’re just getting started.”

This anniversary isn’t some corporate chest puff. It is a nationwide celebration of the makers, venues and communities that champion creativity.

Expect local partnerships, seasonal giveaways and a tenth birthday bash that promises to be as bright as the gin itself.

THE GIN FOR ANYONE WHO REFUSES BORING DRINKS

Ink Gin has never been just a bottle. It is a mood, a bit of magic, a tiny rebellion in indigo. A drink for the dreamers, the colour lovers, the people who want their cocktails to sparkle a little.

And now, after a decade of shaking up the industry, Ink is inviting everyone to celebrate the next chapter.

To join the party and explore ten years of Australian craft magic, visit inkgin.com/10years.