Our Next Generation

Always looking forward

The reason we refer to the fruits of our labour as Next Generation is because we’re all about family. We take great pride in our family history, and our aim is to always hand the business on to the next generation in flourishing condition.

Established in 1883 by George Frederick Earp, for more than 136 years (6 generations) the company has adapted and evolved as purveyors of quality goods in the beautiful portside city of Newcastle. Over the last 35 years our core business has focused on the supply of high quality tiles and stone to Australian home-owners and commercial projects.

Earp Distilling Co. is the next evolution of our family business, allowing us to become makers and creators ourselves. To this day, we are proudly 100% family-owned and operated.

A lot like family

Meet the team

The real heart and soul of Earp Distilling Co.? Our wonderful team. The ethos of our business is built upon generations of family values (literally) and we value the unique and wonderful skills all of our staff bring to the tools and table.

Michael Earp

FOUNDER, DIRECTOR & DISTILLER

Meet our head distiller and man at the helm, Michael Earp. Being no stranger to hard work and pursuing projects a little left of field, for Michael, it's all about a passionate pursuit towards creating a world class distillery in Newcastle.

Known for being famously hands on, Michael's ethos of work hard, play hard, is always at the forefront.

Richard Earp

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

As Joint Managing Director of the family business (Earp Bros - Surface Evolution) alongside his brother Michael for the past few decades, Richard is passionate about all things hard work. He’s no stranger to the world of hospitality (from both sides of the bar) and is a lover of rum, wine, and is slowly warming to whisky. A global traveller and a keen skier of snow, water, grass, and bitumen (it’s a long story), Richard is an outdoorsman with a love of the ocean.

Andrew Earp

PRODUCTION MANAGER & DISTILLER

A multi-faceted raconteur, part man / part enigma, although far from a tradie, with his hands or any tool, Andy is definitely handy to have around.

A lover of detail and always the first to ask why in a constant search for utmost efficiency. Thoughtful and enquiring, Andy is always happy to listen.

Skilled in metalwork, special effects and home-brewing (now distilling), paired with the skill of consumption.

Cameron Burns

OPERATIONS MANAGER & DISTILLER

Having spent the last 13 years in the hospitality industry managing bars, nightclubs, pubs and restaurants Cameron has seen the industry grow and change and brings that wealth of experience into both the bar and the distillery.

A lover of a great drop - be it whisky or wine, Cameron is always happy to toast to any occasion.

Evan Renfrew

COMPLIANCE MANAGER & DISTILLER

As the compliance manager, or more affectionately our Stillman, Evan is our workhorse keeping the home fires burning.

Combining maths, chemistry and alcohol to wonderful effect, Evan is ferociously passionate about distilling, whisky, rum, and friends of the four-legged variety.

Joshua Earp

MARKETING MANAGER

The head of our marketing division and token 'man about town' Josh has a Master's Degree in 'google everything'. As a representative of the sixth generation of the Earp family business, Josh is always looking for a way to be one step ahead of the next great idea. Certified lover of surf, snow and sustainability (and alliteration), whether birkenstocks or black tie, Josh is our go-to guy.

NEXT GENERATION EQUIPMENT

The next evolution in distilling

When initial plans were drawn for the distillery, our team had the chance to do things a little differently. We wanted to question the norms of distilling and in true Earp style have never been afraid to ask why done is done.

Unlike traditional stills our next generation equipment is made from high-quality stainless steel and is destined to outlast copper counterparts by decades. Our stills are designed to be run in two modes - pot still or column still mode, meaning we can produce any kind of spirit imaginable including whisky, rum, brandy, gin, vodka and liqueurs.

Still of steel

Made from high quality stainless steel, our stills are strong and chemically inactive, outlasting copper by decades. Copper requires chemicals for cleaning and facilitates the formation of Ethyl Carbamate (a suspected mild-carcinogen), however copper can be useful in controlling sulfur contamination - by integrating removable copper catalytic waffles, we can control sulfur contamination as required.

Packing a punch

The most common question we get asked when someone sees our stills? "What are the springs in the column?" Our column is filled with stainless steel packing coils to create reflux when needed and open space when distilling in potstill mode.

Square is the new round

The patented flush square boiler offers many benefits including preventing 'agitation of shearing'. This ensures we get a much more stable distillation run with more control over what flavour components are selected and harvested.

90% energy efficiency

Through the use of stainless steel, insulation and innovative design, our stills operate with up to 90% more energy efficiency than traditional copper stills.

Intelligent Automation

Using automation and robotization we get total control over our spirits production process. This helps us ensure we make the exact same top shelf spirit over and over again. Did we mention we can even control our stills on our phones?

Direct heating

Insulated heaters inside our stills , coupled with our jet propulsion agitators, give us direct access to the Maillard Reaction without the risk of scorching (more on the Maillard Reaction below).