Burleigh-born Sunny Days Distillery has opened the doors to a massive new taproom
If you haven’t heard of Sunny Days Distillery yet, now’s the time to get acquainted. This Burleigh-born beverage brand is making waves in the Australian spirits scene and recently opened the doors to a massive new distillery and tasting room on Hutchinson Street. Here’s everything you need to know …
Covid was responsible for some pretty strange hobbies (focaccia, anyone?). For Sean Tuite, who was working as a lawyer in Brisbane during the thick of the pandemic, it was the catalyst for learning to use the still he had inherited from his late grandfather. After plenty of trial runs, Sean had formulated a recipe for a vodka that didn’t taste like hangover and regret. Realising he could be onto something, Sean recruited two mates – Dan Carruthers and former NRL legend Chris Walker – and Sunny Days Distillery was born. The trio were so confident in their premium small-batch vodka, they assembled a team of shareholders who believed in their vision for a Burleigh-born distillery that had the capacity to change the way people perceive premium Australian vodka. Among the esteemed group was Theodore Vairaktaris (Usher Group), Michael Tassis (restauranteur, Tassis Group), Michael Searle, who started Gold Coast Titans, former NRL player Nate Myles and NRL coach Dan Ferris.
Fast forward a few years and Sunny Days now has three brands under its umbrella – Ariane, a top-shelf premium Australian vodka, the spirited and lively Pink Dot, and its flagship brand Sunny Days, which brings a little bit of Palm Springs to the Gold Coast with full-flavoured ready-to-drink cans in fun flavours such as fruit tingle, musk stick and grape candy. The brand has become so popular they outgrew their original home in Burleigh Heads and made the move to an 1100-sqm space, which has become the brand’s new HQ.
On the taps, you’ll find Sunny Days Distillery’s range of sips, including the new flavours before they hit the tins, as well as beers, wines and a clutch of classic vodka-based cocktails, such as the current special – an Aperol cosmopolitan. While it’s still early days for the new space, the team have big plans to introduce live entertainment, including RnB Fridays as well as family-friendly acoustic sessions on the weekends.
Oh, and if you’re feeling a little peckish, Sunny Days Distillery is also where you will find FIX on 66, an American-Mexican-inspired food truck run by Britney Neill, who moved from Los Angeles to bring her take on comfort food to the coast. Her Route 66-inspired menu offers delights like jerk chicken nachos, a Sloppy Joe Texas toasty and a vegan taco salad.
With tunes, tasty food and tipples, Sunny Days Distillery is the perfect spot for your next group gathering. Head to our Stumble Guide for opening times.
The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Gold Coast dining guide with more than 870 places to eat, drink, shop and play.
