Never Never built its brand by placing juniper back at the heart of its gin, and now the South Australian distillery is aiming to make waves once again with its latest innovation: Signature Vodka.
Signature Vodka is Never Never’s first permanent product outside of gin, and is a far step away from the American definition of vodka being a spirit that is “without distinctive character, aroma, taste or colour”.
Never Never has crafted Signature Vodka using Australian wheat spirit, plus a blend of distilled olive, coconut, and avocado oils to introduce a unique texture. After distillation, the vodka undergoes a rigorous 16-hour filtration process through activated carbon before being blended with McLaren Vale water, enhanced with natural salts to adjust pH levels and elevate mouthfeel.
“We built a textural vodka using the techniques learned over eight years of making some of Australia’s best gins,” said Never Never Co-Founder Sean Baxter.
“This isn’t a departure, it’s an extension of what we already do well, and it gives us the chance to bring something genuinely new to a category that has long been defined by sameness.”
In developing its Signature Vodka the never Never team focused on texture, an often-overlooked element in vodka production, transforming it from a mere technical detail into a strategic advantage. The result is what tasting notes describe as “a smooth, long finish with subtle notes of olive, white chocolate, honeyed macadamia, and coconut cream, setting a new benchmark for Australian vodka”.
The launch of Signature Vodka aligns with the ongoing resurgence of vodka-driven cocktails, particularly the martini, a trend Baxter describes as “perfect alignment between a local innovation and a global cocktail trend”.
“Creating an authentic premium vodka in Australia is challenging – we don’t have Russian winter wheat or Icelandic glacier water,” Baxter added. “What we do have is a strong understanding of how to innovate with process and ingredients, and Signature Vodka reflects that.”
Already receiving recognition in the industry, Signature Vodka has been nominated for Innovation at the 2025 Spirits Business Awards. Meanwhile, Never Never’s head distiller, Tim Boast, has earned a spot on the shortlist for Best Global Distiller.
The sleek design of the frosted bottle, metallic label, and clean aesthetics reflect the premium vodka category while offering practical features for bartenders, including an easy grip, batching gradients, and a textured base for smooth pouring.
Never Never Signature Vodka (700ml, 40 per cent ABV) will officially launch on 8 October 2025 at the distillery door in McLaren Vale and through the Never Never website. Distribution to retailers and bars will follow.
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