Next in our ‘Meet the Distiller‘ series, aimed at promoting the hard-working individuals behind Australian craft distilleries and their brands, we meet Codie Palmer of Illegal Tender Rum Co in Western Australia.
Codie Palmer Illegal Tender Rum Co – Photo: Supplied
Tell us a little about yourself, your position and your background.
I’m Codie Palmer, Distiller and Founder of Illegal Tender Rum Co based in the Coral Coast of Western Australia in a small sea side tourist town of Dongara. I get to do something I love every single day of my life and for that I am thankful.
How did you get started in distilling?
I have been distilling for 16 years now. I believe the need to distil and craft is in my very bones. I come from a long line of coopers and distillers and I believe they have assisted in handing down my passion. Having heralded from Dampier in the Pilbara, I found my love for rum and the history of the spirit on Australian shores. I was a qualified high voltage instrumentation electrician previously and I have put these trades to good use throughout the distillery and its infrastructure.
Tell us a little bit about your distillery, when it was founded, the vision behind it and the spirits you currently produce.
I founded ITRC in 2015 after reaching a turning point in my life. I could no longer realistically continue to lead my “double life”. I had met my now General Manager a year previously and she was blown away at my passion for distilling. She also commented that of the 4 bedrooms in my household, there was not one room that did not have something to do with the science in it. I put my house on the market and sold all of my worldly possessions and the rest is history, as it were.
What has been the most rewarding part so far?
At the time of our first release in 2016, there were really no other distilleries around doing anything new with rum. We became the “black sheep distillery” as we are currently the only rum distillery in Australia using the far superior dark brown cane sugar to produce our rum. In fact, we are one of 4 distilleries in the world (that we know of) who create our unique spirits this way. Many use Demerara sugar but I have always preferred Australian sugar cane.
Our Spiced is blended with native botanicals which was not being done by anyone when we released and it has been well received ever since. It is also a spiced that is 100% certified sugar free. We age it in casks for our oak colour and use distilled essential oils for our spices. Have you heard of a completely sugar free rum product or a spiced? I hadn’t either when I started and 328 trial recipes later, I made it. All of our products are 100% sugar and gluten free final products. How many can guarantee that?
But if I were to choose one thing, it would be the fact that I have come from literally nothing and we are now the proud recipients of 16 international spirit awards and that is something I will be proud of for the rest of my days.
Aside from taxation, what has been the most challenging part so far?
Excise is by far our biggest challenge.
To date, on a personal level, I would say our biggest challenge is to get our products on the shelves and back bars of all worthy and great premises Australia-wide. We are in an industry that is in a constant balancing act and the lure of cheaper international products is forever going to be a challenge to our brand. Proving our quality and worth over those brands has long been my goal and it is exciting to see the traction we are getting both nationally and internationally for our products.
What advice would you give someone considering distilling as a career?
This is an industry that knows no bounds. We are carrying on in some circumstances, thousands of years of distilling science and heritage. My advice would be, if you want to stand out, do it differently, but in the right way! Keep true to tradition but push the envelope and continue to be bold. Get to know the industry and if you have a passion for it, that is what counts! Make contact and literally follow your gut.
What’s your opinion on the current state of Australian distilling, and is it sustainable long term?
I believe the Australian distilling scene is an extremely exciting one and it is constantly evolving and growing every single day. Sadly there are some that do not make it but this is the case for any industry. We are a close knit community of passionate and outgoing people surviving and in some cases flourishing against the odds. We are a formidable force and as long as we stay together and continue to evolve, the future for the Australian Distilling industry is in great hands.
Where do you see the future of Australian distilling heading?
Up, up and away! We have literally some of the world’s best spirits on our very doorsteps, if that is not an endorsement to the wares of the Australian producer, there is no better. The future is very bright.
Are there any projects in development that we can look forward to?
Without giving too much away, we have some huge news to release in the coming months of collaborations and new product releases. Rum is my passion and always will be but I grew up also brewing beer, making whisky and speciality gins. We intend on creating something absolutely delicious and completely left field in our world. Pushing the limits of modern distilling science and customer focus has been a huge precedent here at ITRC. Stay tuned.
Any closing comments?
I would like to take the time to thank my amazing team, without whom I could not do what I love every day. To Hayley our GM, Amos, Alysha and Nicholas who run our cellar and back of house like the legends they are, and to our Brand Rep Kyle, I am glad that my passion has rubbed off and thank you for all that you do here at the ITRC family. We are located on a family farm and it would be prudent not to also thank the Palmer family – my family, for their unwavering support. All my love.
Thank you to the team at Gourmantic and Cocktails and Bars for this opportunity and for supporting the Australian craft spirit scene.
Illegal Tender Rum Co is listed in the Australian Distillery Directory.
In partnership with Illegal Tender Rum Co.
