Before there were awards, distributors or gin lovers across Australia sipping Billy Stitch on their patios, there was Dave. And Dave had a shed.
It wasn’t a glamorous setup, just a backyard workspace, a curious mind, and a whole lot of botanicals. At that stage, Billy Stitch wasn’t a business. It was a hobby, a rabbit hole of flavours, infusions, and half-mad ideas involving native ingredients and late-night inspiration.
Friends were the first (and only) “official” tasters. And let’s be honest, they’ll drink just about anything when it’s free and poured in a nice glass.
But even back then, Dave wasn’t mucking around. He was chasing something bold. Something different. Something that would make people stop mid-sip and say: “Wait... what is this?”
So, in true Dave fashion, instead of slowly dipping his toes in the world of feedback and reviews, he cannonballed right in. With six brand-new gins, yes, six, Billy Stitch entered the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
For those unfamiliar, this isn’t your local bake sale tasting table. The SFWSC is the Olympics of spirits. Think 70 expert judges from around the globe, blind tasting and scoring every spirit. The feedback is real, raw, and revered.
So, when the email came through a few months later, both Dave and Steph had to read it twice. And then again. Because somehow, in their very first year of distilling, Billy Stitch walked away with:
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🥇 Double Gold for the Dry Gin
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🥇 Double Gold for the Berry Mojito Gin
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🥇 Gold for the Summer Gin
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🥇 Gold for the Orange and Cassia Gin
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🥈 Silver for the Atypical Apricot Gin
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🥉 Bronze for the first version of Galaxy Pink Gin
That’s right, every single gin placed. An unheard-of outcome, especially for a brand-new distillery run by a husband and wife team with zero industry backing.
But the surprises weren’t done yet.
You see, when a gin receives a Double Gold, it means every single judge independently awarded it gold. And when that happens, those gins are then considered for a Best in Class title.
Yep. Suddenly, Billy Stitch was in the running for Best Contemporary Flavoured Gin in the World.
So Dave and Steph, in a whirlwind of disbelief and excitement, packed their bags and headed to Las Vegas for the official World Spirits Awards night. The evening was a grand affair,vodkas, whiskies, tequilas, rums, you name it. Global giants rubbing shoulders with tiny batch makers from remote corners of the world.
Steve Beal, Senior Advisor to The Tasting Alliance, presenting awards at the 2023 Awards Gala
Then came the moment:
Best in Class – Contemporary Flavoured Gin.
And the winner?
A little Aussie brand from Western Australia, Billy Stitch.
David Hayes and Stephanie Hayes holding their Best in Class Berry Mojito Gin at the Award Gala
Shock. Pride. Happy tears. That moment was the official “We’re really doing this” for the Billy Stitch crew.
It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.
That bold, beautiful spirits could come from backyard sheds, from daydreams and stubborn ideas, from people who cared deeply about flavour and fun.
It was the announcement of Billy Stitch to the world.
And as it turns out, it was also just the beginning.
In 2024, Dave entered the Dry Gin and Berry Mojito again. Not because he had anything to prove, but to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. The result?
Double Gold. Again. For both.
So no, it wasn’t luck. It was imagination, precision, a touch of mischief, and a whole lot of hours spent perfecting spirits that taste like nothing else.
Stephanie and David Hayes in front of the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas
Looking Back, and Looking Forward
That first award in San Francisco wasn’t just a shiny medal, it was the spark that lit a fire. Since then, Billy Stitch has grown into a distillery recognised not just for our flavour-forward gins, but for the heart and story behind every bottle.
We’ll never stop experimenting. We’ll never stop pushing for flavour. And we’ll never forget where it all started, with a shed, a wild idea, and the world’s best gin judges unknowingly taking a sip of what would become Billy Stitch.
If you’ve ever cracked open one of our bottles, thank you. You’re part of this story now too.
