The Full Measure Podcast

“Our job is to make brandy feel more exciting.”

For The Full Measure’s first in-depth interview, we’re thrilled to welcome one of the Australian spirits industry’s most respected figures.

Holly Klintworth is an award-winning second-generation distiller at Bass & Flinders in Dromana. Holly’s career began in wine marketing, but she progressively grew closer to the Bass & Flinders business her father Wayne founded in 2009 – the first distillery on the Mornington Peninsula.

When Wayne passed away in 2020, the Klintworth family rallied, and Holly took the reins of the distillery, becoming managing director and head distiller, and joining a select group of second-generation Australian distillers.

Since then, she’s expanded Bass & Flinders’ acclaimed gin range and designed a slew of new products, including a mistelle, wine grape gin, limoncello and fiery cinnamon liqueur.

But the project closest to her heart, as it was to Wayne’s, is Bass & Flinders’ fine brandies. In the chat, we discuss Holly’s progression through the distilling business, her multiple leadership roles, and explore the Australian brandy story.

Can brandy make a comeback? How is Australian brandy different to cognac? And what’s behind brandy’s fashion crisis?

Both Luke and Holly are passionate advocates for bringing brandy back, and they also offer up some brandy cocktail suggestions so you can play along at home and jump on the bandwagon.

If you enjoy the show, please like, subscribe, rate or review wherever you watch or listen – and feel free to send your spirits-loving friends our way too.

NB If you'd like to make a brandy cocktail at home, check out Luke's recipe for a Vieux Carré featuring a trio of Australian spirits. 

To find out more about partnering with The Full Measure, get in touch with [email protected].

We kick off The Full Measure Podcast Weekly News shows with a look back at last week's launch, ten years of Tasmanian Whisky Week, Chris Hemsworth buying in to Archie Rose, the world of Australian XO Brandies, and more.

You can watch or listen here or on all the usual podcast platforms. If you enjoy what we’re doing, please like and subscribe, rate and review, and tell your mates as it will help us reach more people more quickly.

We’ll be back with the first of our fortnightly in-depth interviews on Friday, when we’ll be in conversation with Holly Klintworth of Bass & Flinders Distillery.

Time to meet The Full Measure team!

Before we launch into regular programming – a blend of weekly shows covering the latest spirits news and fortnightly feature interviews – this episode is a chance to find out all you ever wanted to know, but were afraid to ask, about this new chapter in Australian spirits.

Founder James Smith and his Crafty Pint sidekick Will Ziebell joined The Full Measure editor Luke McCarthy in the studio for a chat about the Australian spirits industry and our plans to do justice to the amazing people, places and products that have made it one of the most exciting on the planet.

You’ll be able to watch and listen to each episode on The Full Measure itself, as well as all the key podcast platforms. And if you enjoy the show, please like and subscribe, rate and review, and tell all your mates about it too.

Cheers!

Behind every great spirit story is someone who knows where to find it.

Award-winning drinks writer Luke McCarthy has spent years exploring Australia's distilleries, uncovering the people, places and passion behind our thriving Australian spirits industry. As the author of acclaimed books on Australian whisky and Australian spirits, and one of the country's most respected spirits journalists, he's dedicated his career to documenting the evolution of craft distilling across Australia.

Now, alongside James Smith, founder of The Crafty Pint, Luke is bringing that expertise to The Full Measure, a new independent publication dedicated to Australian spirits.

From Australian whisky, gin, rum, agave spirits, brandy and vodka to distillery profiles, industry news, bars, bottleshops, events and in-depth features, The Full Measure will celebrate the people and producers shaping one of Australia's most exciting drinks industries.

Launching soon, The Full Measure is set to become the go-to destination for anyone wanting to discover, learn about and follow the Australian spirits scene.

Follow along as a new chapter in Australian spirits begins 🥃

#TheFullMeasure #AustralianSpirits #AustralianWhisky #AustralianDistilleries #SpiritsJournalism

For the past 16 years, The Crafty Pint has been telling the stories of Australia's craft beer industry.

Now it's time for the next chapter.

Meet The Full Measure, a new independent publication dedicated to Australian spirits.

Founded by James Smith, together with award-winning spirits writer Luke McCarthy, The Full Measure has been created to do for the Australian spirits community what The Crafty Pint has done for beer: shine a light on the people, places and products shaping one of Australia's most exciting drinks industries.

From Australian whisky, rum and brandy to gin, vodka, agave spirits and everything in between, we'll be covering the stories behind the bottles, profiling distilleries, exploring Australia's best bars and bottleshops, sharing industry news, educational features, events and much more.

The goal is simple: to become the home of independent Australian spirits journalism and the go-to destination for anyone who wants to discover, learn about, and celebrate the country's incredible spirits scene.

We're almost ready to pour the first measure.

Follow along, share the journey, and be there when we launch.

🥃 Welcome to The Full Measure.

#TheFullMeasure #AustralianSpirits #CraftSpirits #AustralianDistilleries