In December 2018 founders of the award winning Sunshine & Sons spirits brand Michael Conrad and Matt Hobson shared a bottle of one of the world’s finest rums and thought it was about time Australia had a true world-class rum of its own.

Since then Head Distiller Adam Chapman and the team have left no stone unturned to fulfill a shared vision of producing Australia’s finest rum.

That vision came to fruition yesterday at the launch of ‘Nil Desperandum First’ – the very first Australian certified organic molasses rum.

The event at the distillery door in Woombye occurred at precisely 2.22pm (on 22.02.2022). The special time was a nod to Australian Rum being required by law to be aged in wood for two years.

“The newest release was the culmination of a multi-million dollar investment and more than three years of uncompromising effort,” said Matt.  

“Nil Desperandum is the Latin translation of Nothing to Despair,  and  the uniquely Australian expression No Worries. We just love that. It not only sums up the Sunshine Coast, it also gives you an idea of who we are and why we do what we do.

“Australian’s love rum and so do we. It’s well and truly time Australia had a rum the equal of the world’s best.”

Michael said there was also great historic value in the name Nil Desperandum which captured an adventurous spirit and an association with Woombye (formerly known as Cobbs Camp). “Nil Desperandum was a speak-easy owned by Cobbs Camp’s first hotelier James Costar,” he said. “Costar never had a licence at first. The story goes that he went to Brisbane to apply for one but the constabulary objected because he was a sly grogger. But the judge sided with him because it was in the public interest. I guess he thought ‘if we don’t give them a liquor licence they are going to keep sly grogging anyway — might as well make it legal’.”

Unfortunately Costar’s operation was dwarfed by competition from Cobb and Co who put him out of business. 

Thankfully for Australian drinkers, Sunshine & Sons gin and vodka and now Nil Desperandum rum are on a firmer footing, incredible artisan spirits being made locally, in ‘Sarah’ and ‘Maria’, impressive copper stills named after the wife and mother of Mr Costar.

Celebrations included live music, an open-fire barbeque, cocktails, tastings, bottle sales and Sea FM broadcast live from the distillery launch. 

Proceeds of all 200ML limited edition bottles sold yesterday will be donated to support the work and students at the Sunshine Coast’s STEPS Pathways College, said Michael.