The YouTube Channel That Lit the Billy Stitch Spark!

At Billy Stitch, we believe giving credit where it is due, and so here is our dedication and thanks to a fine man sharing the love of the craft with the world, and to him , we owe a great thanks. 

-Steph Co Founder of Billy Stitch Distillery

Billy Stitch Distillery began with with a question, the kind that keeps an engineering brain up at night: “How does one actually make spirits?”

For Billy Stitch co-founder Dave, this wasn’t just idle curiosity, it was a genuine itch that needed scratching. With a background in the Australian Defence Force as an engineer, Dave was no stranger to problem-solving, tinkering, and the kind of deep-dive research that turns hobbies into obsessions. What he didn’t realise at the time was that this hobby would snowball into a full-blown distillery, loved by gin drinkers all over Australia.

It all started like many great DIY ventures do: with a stack of books, a credit card and a few too many late nights browsing hobby brew shops. But the real game-changer? The YouTube rabbit hole. More specifically, Still It.

Still It is a YouTube channel created by Jesse, a passionate home distiller from New Zealand. His videos weren’t just educational; they were welcoming, unpretentious, and packed with everything from basic how-to's to the kind of spirited science chat that makes an engineer’s heart sing. Jesse’s philosophy was simple but powerful: home distillation can be a legitimate hobby, and it should be celebrated as a craft.

From safety protocols to controversial techniques, Jesse covered it all. Vodka, whiskey, gin, absinthe, you name it. But what really drew Dave in was the community. Jesse had created more than a channel, he’d created a space for ideas, experimentation, and respectful geekery. For Dave, it was like finding his people.

And so, hours turned into months of learning. Recipes were tested, mistakes were made (of course), and slowly but surely, the Billy Stitch flavour DNA began to take shape. From his very first successful distillation, Dave knew this wasn't just about gin anymore. It was about pushing boundaries, having fun, and sharing something genuinely bold with others.

But here’s the part that’ll warm your gin-loving heart: in a gesture of gratitude and respect, the very first six Billy Stitch gins featured a dedication to Jesse and his channel on the back label. It was a simple nod to the man whose knowledge helped build the Billy Stitch foundation, but one that meant a great deal.

Fast forward to November 2025, and things came full circle. Dave and Steph (the other half of the Billy Stitch magic) took a special trip to New Zealand’s North Island. Not just for the  or the meat pies and landscapes (though, let’s be honest, those were pretty great too), but to meet Jesse in person.

To say Dave was fan-girling is an understatement. The pair finally got to talk shop face-to-face, nerd out over distilling methods, and even sneak a peek at the actual studio where all those Still It videos are made. It was every distiller’s dream, and it didn’t stop there. They also got to meet Jesse’s partner in crime, Erin, who keeps the whole operation running with admin wizardry, order management, and fan mail duties. Basically, a distilling power couple.

Being invited into their world was a full-circle moment for Billy Stitch, proof of how far a little curiosity, a lot of research, and a YouTube rabbit hole can take you.

So if you’ve ever been curious about how gin is made, or you’re thinking of starting your own home distilling adventure, we couldn’t recommend Still It enough. Jesse doesn’t just teach the “how”, he inspires the “why.”

Check out his channel here: Still It on YouTube

And to Jesse: thank you. For sharing your knowledge, asking the big questions, and being the absolute legend you are. You’ve helped turn our little backyard project into something bold, bright, and bottle-ready, and for that, we’ll always raise a glass in your name.