Perth distillery unveils ‘first’ quinoa spirit

A distillery in Perth is preparing to launch what is thought to be Australia’s “first” quinoa spirit in April.

Quinoa spirit Project Q is thought to be the “first” of its kind in Australia

The Whipper Snapper Distillery, based in East Perth, has partnered with Narrogin-based 3farmers to create just 100 bottles of the unique spirit.

Project Q, as the spirit is called, has been bottled at 47% abv and carries a price tag of AU$185 per bottle.

“We’re all from Narrogin and we like to focus on local grains,” Jimmy McKeown, Whipper Snapper founder, told Perth Now.

“Being able to get a hold of Australian-grown quinoa is exciting. It was a fair bit of work, but it tastes beautiful.”

The use of quinoa is said to deliver a “nuttiness and earthiness” to the spirit’s flavour, according to Whipper Snapper production engineer Tim Hosken.

The 3farmers group will sell the spirit at Coles throughout the country when it launches.

Co-founder Ahsley Wiese said Project Q was the “first commercial release” of a quinoa product as a liquid.