Nathan Williams said that gin drinkers tend to talk a lot with their friends about their beverage of choice, so he hopes this bottle will get the conversation onto the drought and how to help those at the forefront.
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The Mudgee distillery has released a gin that's been co-branded with locally-grown initiative 200 Bales.
Developed last year by Glenn Box, 200 Bales began as means to get bales of hay to one farmer who was doing it tough - but it was immediately clear, there were many more in dire straits.
As the drought has continued, so has 200 Bales, going well beyond it's original goals - but nowhere near what is needed.
Mr Williams said that while the tourism sector remains strong, the drought - a way to help those hit hardest - needs to be at the forefront of the community's consciousness.
Which is why he hopes that the 200 Bales bottles provide a conversation piece for their owners, raise further awareness and prompt a further discussion and action in the wider community.
It also has a further donation mechanism via a QR code on the label, which when scanned directs you to the 200 Bales website to further contribute.
Mr Box was recognised for his work in establishing 200 Bales when he was named the 2019 Citizen of the Year by Mid Western Regional Council on Australia Day.
And in July - after 12 months, well over $500,000 and over 3000 bales distributed throughout the region - he said it was important that the community knows that the campaign is still in operation and needed more than ever.
With the Bureau of Meteorology's climate outlook for the Central West showing little chance of drought-breaking rains for the summer season, with any rain that does fall during the next three months unlikely to have a positive impact on stream and river levels.
200 Bales have done an extraordinary job of getting feed out where its needed, we wanted to help them do that as well as continuing the conversation.
- Nathan Williams
"Despite the fact that the Mudgee Region's remains a vibrant tourist destination, it is palpable that the farming community are suffering, stock are suffering and with a long hot summer ahead, it creates dire consequences for livestock and rural communities," Mr Williams said.
"It means its time to do something and as a local business, this is what we've come up with.
"Whilst rain is really the only solution, this is one way we can chip in to help people doing it tough and help Glenn Box and the 200 Bales group continue their fantastic work."
$10 from each bottle goes to 200 Bales to continue buying and distributing hay to local farmers. That donation gives feed first, and support to drought affected farmers.
"We'd like to think this provides not only feed to stock, but support from the community to people who've been doing it very tough - let them know that they're not alone and that they do have support in the community," Mr Williams added.
Being close to Christmas, the team at Baker Williams came up with the concept that spirits are often given as a gift - with this being a gift that gives to a great cause.
We've been fortunate to have had a pretty good year in tourism, and we saw this as a great way to lend a hand to folks who need some Christmas spirit and assist the 200 Bales team.
- Nathan Williams
"We've been fortunate to have had a pretty good year in tourism, and we saw this as a great way to lend a hand to folks who need some Christmas spirit and assist the 200 Bales team," he said.
"They've done an extraordinary job of getting feed out where it's needed, we wanted to help them do that as well as continuing the conversation."
In addition to the individual bottles, there will also be gift boxes available with each of the producers contributing to the cause with each gift box contributing further funds to 200 Bales.
Baker Williams Distillery and 200 Bales would like to acknowledge the support provided by suppliers including Spencer Cocoa, Hello Lovelies/Oliver Twist, as well as label supplier MCC (Multi Color Corporation) who pulled together the label in very short order and allowed them to bring the Hay Bale Gin to market.
During its lifetime numerous individuals, groups, and businesses chose to support 200 Bales through a variety of initiatives, including the Day In The Dirt music festival last November.
And last weekend, the decision to cancel the Festival of Snags fireworks display was turned into a $10,000 donation from the Wotif team to campaign, which was already the beneficiary of any money raised at the event.
- For more information on 200 Bales, to donate or nominate a farmer, visit 200bales.com.