Australia’s First Nepalese Gin
In the growing world of Australian craft spirits, Bright Night Gin stands apart – not just for its award-winning flavours or its pristine Tasmanian roots, but for something even more unique: it is Australia’s first Nepalese gin.
Founded by Suman Dahal, a spirited entrepreneur who moved to Australia from Kathmandu in 2000, Bright Night Gin brings together two worlds in the most flavourful way possible. It captures the wild, unfiltered essence of Tasmania while carrying a deeply personal thread of Nepalese heritage in every bottle.
A Journey from Kathmandu to Melbourne
Suman’s story is one shared by many migrants – the journey of finding a new home, a new community, and eventually, a new dream. After landing in Australia as a young man, he built a life here, falling in love with Australia’s dramatic landscapes, clean air, and chilled lifestyle. Tasmania was as close to home with the hills, wilderness and unmatched purity of water. But his love for gin, his passion for storytelling, and his Nepalese roots always lingered close to the heart. Bright Night Gin was born out of a desire to merge all those threads into one meaningful brand: a gin that speaks of where he came from, where he is now, and the flavours that connect them both.
Nepalese Influence in the Gin Botanicals
While Bright Night Gin is undeniably Tasmanian in origin, its flavours whisper of the Himalayas. Some of the botanicals used in the gin are commonly found in everyday cooking in Nepal – cardamom, coriander seeds, cinnamon and cloves, to name a few.
In Nepal, these spices are central to not only culinary traditions but also to cultural rituals, remedies, and celebrations. In Bright Night’s gin expressions, they don’t overpower – they offer a subtle nod, a layered complexity, a connection to home.
Suman explains, “When I taste our Wild Tasmanian Gin, I can taste the mountain air of Tasmania and, at the same time, get these faint reminders of my mother’s kitchen in Kathmandu. It’s wild and pure, but also familiar.”
Recognition on the World Stage
Bright Night Gin hasn’t just introduced a new cultural angle to Australian gin – it’s also earned international recognition. The Wild Tasmanian Gin, the flagship expression, was crowned Asia Pacific Spirit of the Year at the prestigious China Wine and Spirits Awards.
It has also taken out Gold in major Australian and international awards. And in a particularly proud achievement recently, the Wild Tasmanian Gin won the Champion Trophy for Best Contemporary Gin at the Royal Sydney Distilled Spirits Awards.
The Pink Gin, made with rare Tasmanian Murtis berries, has also shone brightly – earning Gold at the Australian Gin Awards two years running, alongside gold at the San Francisco Spirit awards and recognition around the world.
These accolades reflect the careful, small-batch distillation process, the use of Tasmanian mountain water, and the vision to combine authenticity with bold creativity.
A Tasmanian Soul, a Nepalese Heart
What makes Bright Night Gin so compelling is not just the awards or even the flavour. It’s the story. The Gin is a partnership between Suman in Melbourne and Damian in Tasmania. Each gin is handcrafted in Tasmania, using pure mountain water from kunanyi / Mt Wellington and a blend of native and familiar botanicals. The distilling is led by the legendary Damian Mackey, co-founder of the brand and one of Australia’s most respected distillers. But the soul of the gin lies in its cultural duality – Tasmania and Nepal, nature and spice, tradition and experimentation.
Meet Suman at Gin Events
For Bright Night Gin, connection goes beyond the bottle. Suman is often out and about at some of Australia’s biggest food and drink gatherings, from Ginuary in Hobart to the Good Food & Wine Shows on the mainland. Meeting the maker has become part of the experience – a chance for gin lovers to hear the story directly, ask questions, and taste the spirits together.
To find out where Bright Night will pop up next, the team maintains a regularly updated Gin Events page on their website. It’s the best way to see which festivals, masterclasses, and tastings Suman will be hosting.
In-Office Gin Tasting Experiences
But you don’t always have to wait for a public event. Bright Night Gin also runs private, in-office tasting experiences – an increasingly popular option for corporate gatherings, client entertainment, or team celebrations.
Led personally by Suman in Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia, these sessions bring the full Bright Night story into the workplace. Participants enjoy guided tastings of all three gin expressions, learn how botanicals are chosen, and even pick up cocktail-making skills. It’s an experience that blends education, storytelling, and, of course, plenty of good gin.
Enquiries for these tailored tastings are open, making them an accessible and memorable option for businesses wanting to create a unique experience.
The Future: Nepalese-Inspired Gin Expressions
And the journey is far from over. Suman and the team are currently working on a series of Nepalese-infused gins that promise to be as bold as they are unique. Think Himalayan herbs, citrus from the foothills, and exotic roots rarely seen in Western spirits.
“These aren’t fusion gins for novelty,” Suman explains. “They’re authentic. They use ingredients that are part of my life and show how beautifully they fit into the craft of distilling.”
A Toast to Connection
In a world of copy-paste brands, Bright Night Gin dares to be personal. Whether you’re sipping on a Wild Tasmanian G\&T with grapefruit and rosemary, or a Pink Gin Spritz with lemonade and lime, you’re not just tasting premium gin. You’re sipping on a story that stretches from the snow-capped Himalayas to the Tasmanian wilderness.
“It’s more than a drink – it’s a connection between cultures, people, and moments.”
Proud Nepalese Gin
Bright Night Gin is proudly Australia’s first Nepalese gin. From Kathmandu to Tasmania, from kitchen spice to cocktail garnish, from humble beginnings to international acclaim, it’s a celebration of everything that makes craft spirits beautiful.
Explore the full range of Bright Night Gin on [brightnight.com.au](https://brightnight.com.au), browse the Gin Events page to meet Suman at festivals, or book an in-office tasting to experience the story first-hand.
Here’s to a brighter night – and a gin that brings worlds together.
Our range of multi award winning gins
Bright Night Wild Tasmanian Gin
Capture multi award winning Wild Tasmania in your glass. Recently awarded Asia Pacific spirit of the year 2022.
$85.00 incl GSTAdd to cart
Bright Night Pink Gin
Looks like summer sunset, tastes like strawberry sherbet. Made with Tasmanian murtis berries, try our new Pink Gin.
Original price was: $105.00.$99.00Current price is: $99.00. incl GSTAdd to cart
Chardonnay Barrel Aged Gin
Award winning Wild Tasmanian Gin aged in a Tasmanian Winery's Choardonnay (French Oak) Barrel
Original price was: $99.00.$94.00Current price is: $94.00. incl GSTAdd to cart