From sheep's cheese to world's best vodka: Hartshorn Distillery hits the high-end

When there's a will there's a way, and when there's whey there's...vodka?
From the family sheep's milk farm south of Hobart, Ryan Hartshorn (pictured) has built a spirit producer that's the envy of the world. Hartshorn Distillery won top honours in the World Vodka Awards 2018 in London, while its gins are held in high regard.
But a business cannot thrive on accolades alone. Through a creative "full circle" approach to ingredients, the Hartshorn's Grandvewe Farm has lifted its cheese game while two luxury products mix a potent tourism cocktail.
At Business News Australia we speak with Hartshorn to find out how it all began.
"It came about because the cheese side of the business wasn't making enough money to sustain the three families that are currently in the business. Something major needed to change," he says.
"I took it upon myself to come up with a business idea where even if it wasn't going to be relevant to the cheesery, it could basically get enough income for us all. We were paying ourselves less than the minimum wage at the time." Read more

Matt Ogg - Business News Australia - 7 December 2018