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Adelaide gin distiller Prohibition Liquor Co is aiming to raise $4 million in one of the largest crowdfunding campaigns for the Australian distilling sector after being swamped by about 4,000 people expressing interest in backing the company to the tune of almost $15 million in pledges ahead of the launch last week.
Prohibition Liquor, which is located in the Adelaide CBD, will use the new capital to expand into the historic Seppeltsfield distillery building in the Barossa Valley to cater for business growth.
If the company manages to hit its target, the crowdfunding campaign will be the first of its kind for a liquor manufacturer in South Australia and the second largest nationally behind the $4.3 million raised by Tasmanian high-end whiskey distiller Hellyers Road in May last year.
Prohibition Liquor’s crowdfunding campaign on the OnMarket platform raised $1.95 million by 4pm (AEDT) today since opening last Thursday.
Among new investors are Adelaide media personality Ali Clark and husband Matt Clarke, former AFL star and head coach of the Adelaide Crows AFLW team. Both also have come onboard as strategic advisors.
“Prohibition Liquor Co is on track to set equity crowdfunding records for 2025, with an incredible expression of interest phase generating close to $15 million worth of potential investments from almost 4,000 people,” says Tim Eisenhauer, managing director of OnMarket.
“They’ve now set a target of $4 million, which will make this the second-biggest liquor equity crowdfunding raise in Australian history.
“What truly sets this raise apart is that it’s the first time a liquor company in South Australia has gone through this process.
“The response from South Australian investors has been massive, which isn’t surprising.
“Prohibition Liquor Co is a quintessentially South Australian brand. The idea of it being sold to a foreign entity to fund its next stage of growth isn’t something South Australians want to see, and that’s why we’ve had some substantial local investors express interest.”
Prohibition Liquor was founded in 2015 by Adam Carpenter who opened a city distillery and tasting room in 2017, later expanding the Gilbert Street site to include a cocktail bar and coffee shop – a venue that generates about $10 million in sales annually.
Voted Australia’s best gin for three year’s running, Prohibition Liquor is sold in 2,000 outlets globally including France, Singapore and Japan, with its online site alone generating about $4 million in annual sales.
Carpenter says with the company’s production and function space at capacity, the crowdfunding campaign is aimed at helping it expand into the historic Seppeltsfield distillery.
“Built 147 years ago, it is one of Australia’s oldest distilleries and was once a hive of activity supplying brandy to hospitals across Australia,” says Carpenter.
“Sitting idle for the better part of 50 years, it’s time to wake up this great dame of Australian distilling and give it a new life. It’s the perfect next step in our evolution.”
Carpenter says that while some production facilities have already been reactivated, the crowdfunding will be applied to create an art deco-inspired bar, commercial kitchen as well as a museum space to celebrate the history of distilling in Australia.
“Our aim is to bring a sense of prohibition era glamour to reinstate this building beyond its former glory,” he says.
“The company also plans to increase its production capacity sales reach and grow export markets
“It’s an audacious project but over the past nine years we have built more than just a brand, we’ve built a community and we want to share our journey with the people who have supported us.”
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