The prickly plant powering a new spirits industry

Australia's burgeoning spirits industry is looking towards a prickly, yet promising, future with the cultivation of agave plants for mezcal and tequila production. Eden Lassie, the country's only commercial agave farm located near Bowen in Queensland, is at the forefront of this agricultural venture. Home to half a million agave plants, the farm is nurturing a crop that, until recently, was primarily associated with its native Mexico. Farm manager Brett Smail highlights the unique challenges and rewards of working with these spiky succulents, noting their potential for producing high-quality spirits.

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We're affectionately known as the prickle farm to the locals, so they are very dangerous.

The farm's journey has been marked by significant challenges, most notably the collapse of its former owner, Australian distiller Top Shelf International, last year. This financial downturn cast a shadow over the future of the half-million agave plants. However, a new chapter has begun with the acquisition by Blue Sky Drinks, a local beverage company. This intervention has secured the farm's operations and positioned it to capitalize on the expanding market for agave-based spirits, a category experiencing robust global growth.

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The other thing a lot of people don't know is that if you get the sap on you a very itchy rash can come up.

Managing director Mick Spencer of Blue Sky Drinks sees immense potential in the Australian market, which is just beginning to embrace agave spirits, unlike the more mature markets for bourbon, vodka, and wine. The company is focusing on optimizing the existing harvest rather than immediate expansion, with plans for a cellar door opening soon. This strategic approach aims to establish a strong foundation for what is envisioned as a generational and iconic Australian spirits industry. Furthermore, the appeal of agave cultivation is extending to other agricultural sectors, with struggling wine grape growers exploring it as a viable alternative crop due to its resilience and lower water requirements compared to traditional vineyards.

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Mature categories like bourbon, vodka, wine, [are] all flat or declining, and you've got agave or tequila globally growing more than ten per cent a year.