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Ten years ago, in a quiet tin shed surrounded by sugarcane fields in northern New South Wales, a biochemist with more curiosity than capital decided to shake up the world of gin. Today, that same experiment, a vibrant, colour-changing spirit known simply as Ink, has become an Australian export success story, with more than 1.1 million bottles sold and a loyal following that stretches from Byron Bay to Berlin.

What began as a what-if moment for founder Paul Messenger has become a decade-long tale of boldness, beauty, and a hint of rebellion. “When I first showed it to a sales rep,” Messenger recalls with a grin, “he said, ‘It tastes great — but gin’s supposed to be clear.’ I told him, ‘Who says?’”

That simple question lit the fuse for a global colour revolution that would redefine how the world viewed gin and push Australian craft spirits onto the world stage.

The Experiment That Started It All

Messenger’s journey began not in a glossy distillery or sleek tasting room, but in the corrugated iron shed every Australian farmer knows — the kind that hums in the summer heat. The plan, at first, wasn’t gin at all. As a trained biochemist, Messenger was tinkering with an idea for Australia’s first paddock-to-bottle agricole-style rum.

Then, during a trip through Southeast Asia, he stumbled upon a vivid blue herbal tea brewed from butterfly pea flowers — a plant revered for its rich colour and magical ability to change hue when mixed with citrus. Intrigued, he pocketed five seeds, brought them home to Australia, and started experimenting.

Over the next three years, Messenger perfected a blend combining traditional botanicals, lemon myrtle, Tasmanian pepperberry, and juniper, with sun-dried butterfly pea petals. The result was a gin that shimmered deep indigo in the bottle and transformed to a soft pink when mixed with tonic.

It was chemistry with character, and Australians couldn’t get enough of it.

Breaking the Rules, One Bottle at a Time

By 2015, Ink Gin had evolved from a humble shed operation into a symbol of creative defiance. From hand-labelling bottles by torchlight to navigating a sceptical industry that preferred its gin colourless and conformist, the Messenger family faced their fair share of raised eyebrows.

“We’ve always done things our own way,” says Paul’s daughter, Harriet Messenger, now the brand’s creative director. “Ink broke every rule at the time and some of the old-school crowd weren’t impressed. But there’s no reason gin has to be clear. The quality and beauty of Ink speak for themselves. It’s not just a gin, it’s a joy to experience.”

That joy soon became contagious. As the Messenger family expanded their operation into what is now the Husk Farm Distillery, a lush, visitor-favourite destination near Tumbulgum Ink Gin, the reputation spread fast. What started as a local curiosity turned into a global conversation.

Today, Ink Gin is sold across Australia and exported to seven countries, with new distribution deals opening doors across Asia and Europe. Yet, despite its international reach, Ink has remained fiercely independent, proudly Australian, and resolutely family-run.

The Colour Heard Around the World

Ink’s innovation won over drinkers and sparked a global trend. Within a few short years, major distilleries worldwide scrambled to release their butterfly-pea gins, hoping to capture the same kaleidoscopic appeal that Ink pioneered.

But imitation, as they say, is the sincerest form of flattery.

Rather than resting on its laurels, Ink doubled down on what made it unique: local ingredients, environmental care, and a commitment to doing things differently. Every drop is still distilled, bottled, and packed by hand at Husk Farm, where visitors can sip, swirl, and watch the magic happen first-hand.

For the Messengers, it’s proof that staying true to your roots can be as powerful as global marketing budgets. “Sometimes I look back and can’t quite believe how far we’ve come,” says Paul. “From five seeds in a backyard in Brisbane to creating a whole new category of gin. We didn’t know the rules and maybe that’s why we broke them so well.”

Ten Years of Colour, Craft and Character

To mark its tenth anniversary, Ink Gin is doing what it does best: celebrating colour, creativity, and community. Throughout November, the distillery is partnering with local venues, cafés, and bars to showcase inventive collaborations under the banner ‘No More Boring Drinks’.

Among them:

Ink x 94 Café: matcha-inspired giveaways and limited-edition butterfly-pea cocktails
Ink x Strangelove Sodas: a spring cocktail giveaway celebrating colour and flavour
Ink x Rosella’s Bar: a birthday-weekend cocktail launch with free tastings for the first fifty guests
Ink Gin Birthday Party: a garden-disco celebration at Husk Farm Distillery on 1 November

The festivities aren’t just about raising glasses, they’re about raising awareness of what independent Australian makers can achieve when passion meets persistence.

“It’s really about connection,” says Harriet. “We’ve always believed that Ink is more than a product, it’s a reflection of the people and places that shape modern Australian craft and culture.”

A Spirit for the Dreamers

Ink Gin’s tenth anniversary isn’t merely a corporate milestone. It’s a story about daring to colour outside the lines — a reminder that creativity and courage are still the true hallmarks of Australian innovation.

While the Messengers could have sold out long ago, they’ve chosen to build a legacy instead. “The next ten years are about building on what we’ve founded,” Harriet says. “There are new stories to tell and new horizons to reach. We believe Ink has the potential to become a heritage brand, something that outlives us all.”

That sentiment rings true. In an industry increasingly dominated by conglomerates, Ink Gin is a rare, radiant example of what happens when you mix integrity with imagination.

And as Australia raises a glass to a decade of Ink, it’s clear that this is more than a gin; it’s a spirit for the dreamers, the doers, and those who refuse to pour another boring drink.

For more on Ink Gin’s 10-year celebration, visit inkgin.com/10years.