It’s inspired by founders Jacqui Henshaw and Keith Smith’s memories of the Great Ocean Road and it’s distilled right here in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges with desert lime, saltbush and seaspray; Henshaw and Smith explain why you need it in your drinks cabinet, your sunset Gin and Tonic, and your low-lit Martini.
Who are you and what are you all about?
We are partners in life and are both creative professionals. We have worked together as freelance photographers, designers and art directors, and we wanted to work on a different project together, something which involved our shared passion for gin. Inspired by our memories of holidays on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria for over 20 years, we wanted to capture the classic Australian beach and bush experience as an aroma and as a flavour in a gin, hence the name.
The name was actually the title of one of Jacqui’s art exhibitions from the early ’00s, and it became the perfect name for our idea. We created the flavour profile in 2020 and it wasn’t bottled until late 2021. We were self-funded so it took a while, but so worth the wait.
Give us the elevator pitch, what is Travelling While Standing Still gin?
Travelling While Standing Still is an elegant and artful gin with a uniquely Australian accent. We love gin, art and the natural world and wanted to make something that captured these passions; it’s art in a bottle.
Explain like we’re five, how do you make them?
Most gins are made by experimenting with flavours until you’re happy with the taste and balance. Our goal was to attach a flavour to a memory; we needed the taste to match the concept. This is what makes us unique.
Our hero botanicals of saltbush, seaspray and desert limes are macerated with fresh limes to create the perfect citrusy flavour for a Gin and Tonic. The water is then purified three times before being used for proofing down the spirit. Finally, the gin is hand-bottled and hand-labelled in Macedon before being sent out for people to enjoy.
What excites you about the project?
We are so excited by this gin as it embodies what we set out to do, capturing wonderful memories and expressing a love for art and our environment in a unique drink. We especially love doing tastings and watching people’s faces when they realise they adore the flavour. We want to keep the flavour profile simple so that Travelling While Standing Still plays nicely with all your favourite cocktails.
What are the perfect conditions to enjoy Travelling While Standing Still gin?
We started out wanting to capture the feeling of a classic, crisp Gin and Tonic on the deck after a day at the beach, but our vision for the gin has expanded. Travelling While Standing Still gin, being super dry and balanced, is perfect in a Martini and other essential gin cocktails like a Negroni or a Gimlet. Elegant and versatile, it’s great in a summer classic, but also in an intimate drink with someone special. For us, it’s daylight-saving evenings with cool jazz in the background.
Is it here for a good time or a long time?
We have realised Travelling While Standing Still gin is both the friend at the beginning and the end of an evening. You can start the party with a beautiful gin cocktail, then realise you can finish the night off with a quiet nip of Travelling While Standing Still gin in a beautiful glass with a large piece of ice. Good times become long-term memories, so it’s here for both. A percentage of sales goes to Marine Conservation, so we can all enjoy nature for a long time, too.
Where can I buy them?
We are stocked at The Prince Wine Store in Melbourne and Sydney, Bellota Wine Bar in South Melbourne, Williamstown Fine Wine, and many great stores and bars in the Macedon Ranges, which you can find on our website.
Travelling While Standing gin, 700ml Bottle, $95, travellingwhilestandingstill.com, @travellingwhilestanding_still