Ginger Drinks
Lingering spice Seamus May explores the ginger drinks segment and finds out what is driving its continued popularity. Ginger beer has a long and storied history
that keeps consumers returning across
Projects, also emphasises the quintessential
in Australia. Stoneware jars which contained
the centuries?
Aussie nature of this spicy offering,
the spicy brewed beverage have been
For Matt Redin, Marketing Manager
discovered in Sydney, dating all the way
of Angove Family Winemakers (which
describing it as: “A classic Australian drink
back to 1830. In 1838, William Starkey’s
produces Stone’s Ginger Beer and Wine
The Stone’s brand is a testament to
Ginger Beer factory, located in modern-
in Australia), ginger drinks are perfectly
the staying power of ginger drinks, with
day Elizabeth Street, Sydney, was the largest
suited to the Australian climate.
the company able to trace its history to a
that has stood the test of time.”
plant of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
“Ginger is both refreshing and sweet at
London distillery in the mid-18th century.
Australian brand Kirk’s is perhaps one of the
the same time with a lovely lemony, citrus
“For a long time, Stone’s Original Ginger
oldest locally established brands of ginger
character and a gentle warmth that is perfect
Wine was the ginger category, standing alone
drink still in production, dating back nearly
for our cooler months,” Redin said.
with very little competition or companion,”
100 years, to at least 1924. Ginger beer’s extensive presence in
“In summer, when consumed as a ginger beer, it really is fantastic.”
Australia is unsurprising when you consider
This is a view also held by Matso’s Brand
that its two vital ingredients, root ginger and
Manager, Flora Lolev, who said: “Ginger
sugar cane, are produced here in abundance.
beer is a great complement to the Australian
The Sunshine Coast region alone produces
climate and lifestyle.
Redin said. These days, there are multiple ginger drink brands for the spice-craving consumer to choose from, as Redin acknowledges. “Stone’s has been the platform from which many of the new entrants have now
over 6,000 tonnes of ginger a year, and
“Born out of Broome and inspired by the
Queensland as a whole harvests more than
balmy climate of our home, it’s amazing to
Matso’s is one such comparatively newer
35 million tonnes of sugar cane.
see [Matso’s Ginger Beer] grow each year.”
entrant, brewed for decades in comparison
Alex Bottomley, Director of Ampersand
to the centuries of Stone’s. But today, with
But what is it about ginger drinks 38 | National Liquor News
sprung,” Redin said.
