Close×

Gintonica has released its 2019 Aussie Gin Advent Calendar in the lead up to Christmas, transforming its packaging design and moving away from plastic caps on its bottles for this year’s edition.

The advent calendar includes 24 craft gins packed behind tabs in the box, using ‘Aus Deco’ illustrations for its design.

Gintonica founder David Box collaborated with a number of companies to achieve the 2019 edition, including Andrew Harrowell from Melbourne’s Colourmark, Scott Bremner for the artwork, and Eric Boyd on the packaging design.

“We discussed the brief for something Australian, celebratory, timeless, maybe with cocktail affiliation, but not the US prohibition,” said Box.

“We were thinking of following the botanical line as part of the images, but rightfully Scott [Bremner] challenged that as overdone.”

“After some thought, Scott came up with the ‘Aus Deco’ theme, being Art Deco, but with the classic Australian summer slant. It immediately worked in many levels. We all love it.”

The gin bottles inside were also changed from previous editions, with Box using aluminium ROPP caps, as well as importing the ‘Oslo’ bell-shaped bottle from France “that is a true spirit bottle shape”.

The 2019 Aussie Gin Advent Calender includes 24 x 50ml Australian craft gins with mini distillery labels, which are sourced from six states and 24 distillers, as well as tasting notes and serving suggestions.

The advent calendars can be ordered direct from www.gintonica.com.au.

Food & Drink Business

International multi-protein food business, Hilton Foods, has signed an agreement with CleanCo Queensland to have its Brisbane facility fully powered by renewable energy.

Our Top 100 2025 edition of Food & Drink Business magazine is more than the annual flagship Top 100 Report. Industry leaders reflect on the year past and the one ahead, we provide our annual news review, M&A wrap-up, and all the executive moves, and a Roman-inspired sports drink, Posca, is our final Rising Star for 2025.

A blend of salt, red wine vinegar, and water – known as Posca – was the ‘original sports drink’, helping to keep the soldiers of the Roman Empire marching up to 30 kilometres per day. Keira Joyce spoke with Posca Hydrate co-founders, Merrick Watts and Ed Stening, about reviving a 2000-year-old functional beverage for the modern healthy lifestyle.