Charlie Schmidt

The Climb

Training at Gonzaga Prep Jesuit and Niti Dai University, Tokyo gave Charlie Schmidt a path shaped by formal study and a wider frame of reference. For a distiller, that combination matters: discipline on one side, range on the other. At Kangaroo Island Spirits, Schmidt’s work sits comfortably inside a distillery built around local identity, where technical control has to hold up against place.

Today

Since 2021, the Chief Distiller role at Kangaroo Island Spirits has centered Schmidt’s work on freshness, seasonality, and the island’s own ingredients. Fresh, locally grown botanicals and fresh juniper from the distillery trees give the spirits a sharper, more immediate profile. Schmidt puts it plainly: “The fresh juniper picked from the trees here at the distillery packs a much stronger, fresher punch than dried juniper from overseas.”

Career - Chief Distiller — Kangaroo Island Spirits Education: Gonzaga Prep Jesuit; Niti Dai University, Tokyo

Signature

Koala 48 Gin, Single Malt Whisky Tawny Cask, Apera Cask, and Bourbon Cask map the range of Schmidt’s distilling at Kangaroo Island Spirits. Koala 48 Gin is the clearest statement in the set: a limited-release gin built from 48 botanicals and bottled at 48% ABV. The whisky releases move the work in another direction, with cask influence carrying the spirit into texture, finish, and length.

In Their Words “ We don’t just want to create spirits that are from Kangaroo Island but embody the spirit of Kangaroo Island, showcasing the best of what the island has to offer along with the character of the people that call it home.” “ The fresh juniper picked from the trees here at the distillery packs a much stronger, fresher punch than dried juniper from overseas.”

Recognition

Koala 48 Gin is Schmidt’s signature work: a limited-release gin built from 48 botanicals and bottled at 48% ABV. The construction is precise, but the point is broader than numbers. Schmidt frames the goal as one of substance and place: “We don’t just want to create spirits that are from Kangaroo Island but embody the spirit of Kangaroo Island, showcasing the best of what the island has to offer along with the character of the people that call it home.”

FAQ Where did Charlie Schmidt train or study? Charlie Schmidt trained at Gonzaga Prep Jesuit and Niti Dai University, Tokyo. What is Charlie Schmidt known for? Limited-release gins and whisky made to reflect Kangaroo Island's place and character.