Mouth Behind The Menu

Rebecca Carroll & Chloe Chaplin

Just outside of Sydney NSW in the untouched Australian bushland where crystal clear waterways flow through the valley. Inhabited by goannas, cicada killing wasps, wallabies, kangaroos & koalas that are accompanied by a vast array of incredible flora you will find hidden away at the edge of this unique part of the world Karu, an Independently owned and operated micro distillery dedicated to the science and art of distillation. I caught up with Ally, one of the two founders (and the only two team members) of Karu to hear all about her journey, passion and drive for distilling. So, I decided I can't edit, so therefor won't edit, apologies in advance for awkward moments (something I personally love), a couple of profanities and a few giggles. If like Ally you get bored quickly, I've made you a little cheat sheet so you can skip ahead to the parts you want to tune into the most, Scroll down for cheat sheet, and head to my insta for Ally's cocktail recipe of the summer ;) Enjoy! A little background on Karu and how/why the brand was born! 0:25 Karu’s product range 3:02 The reality of a tiny two person distillery 3:31 Karu’s growth plan 5:27 Acquiring the physical distillery 7:41 Nick & Ally’s division of roles in the business 11:07 What makes Ally so passionate about hospitality and distilling 12:37 Ally’s experience so far as a woman in distilling 15:23 Establishing a balanced life whilst running a rapidly growing business 18:47 Karu - The future plan 23:19 A typical day in the life of Ally 26:27 Who's inspiring Ally the most at the moment, outside of Nick. 29:57 Collaborating with the industry for organic growth 31:46 Promoting responsible & enjoyable drinking 38:41 Ally’s advice for anybody wanting to take a chance on their passions 41:10 The Ally - Ally’s ultimate summer tipple recipe 44:33

This podcast, as expected for the first episode, despite being planned to the second, ended up being a random yet wonderful conversation with some smashing people, who are doing incredible things. We chatted about sourcing producers both in the industry and as the general public The consumer perception of cost and how a lack of understanding is affecting local businesses Monica's latest series of Pop Up's - Lulu's goes Italian & what Italian cuisine means to her Dive in, it's only a quicky!