Maidenii, the premium producer of vermouth in Australia, was founded by two industry veterans, Shaun Byrne and Gilles Lapalus. Shaun, a seasoned mixologist, has been crafting cocktails since he came of age, and his passion for mixology has only grown stronger over the years. After gaining valuable experience in restaurants and bars in the UK, he returned to his home country of Australia to become a part of the esteemed Gin Palace family in Melbourne. It was during his eight-year tenure at Gin Palace that he met Gilles and together, they embarked on a...
Maidenii, the premium producer of vermouth in Australia, was founded by two industry veterans, Shaun Byrne and Gilles Lapalus. Shaun, a seasoned mixologist, has been crafting cocktails since he came of age, and his passion for mixology has only grown stronger over the years. After gaining valuable experience in restaurants and bars in the UK, he returned to his home country of Australia to become a part of the esteemed Gin Palace family in Melbourne. It was during his eight-year tenure at Gin Palace that he met Gilles and together, they embarked on a new venture - Maidenii.
Gilles, a third-generation winemaker hailing from the Cluny region of Burgundy, has over 30 years of experience in the industry. He has worked in various renowned wine regions around the world, including France, Italy, Chile, and finally, Australia. In 2001, Gilles made the move to Australia to manage biodynamic viticulture and winemaking at Sutton Grange Winery. It was here that he first started experimenting with botanicals, which ultimately led to the creation of Maidenii Vermouth with Shaun in 2011.
In addition to Maidenii, Shaun and Gilles have also co-founded another successful company, Marionette, which produces cocktail staple liqueurs using ingredients sourced directly from Australian farmers. Shaun's entrepreneurial spirit and love for the drinks industry also led him to complete a degree in entrepreneurship and launch his own consulting company, Good Measure. He also met his future wife, Ellen, during his time at Gin Palace.
Despite his busy schedule and a gentle warning from Ellen to not start any more new businesses, Shaun's passion for the drinks industry remains unwavering. And with Gilles at his side, they continue to push boundaries and create exceptional products. Gilles also launched his own wine company, Maison LAPALUS, in 2015, further cementing his status as a master winemaker. With Maidenii and Maison LAPALUS, Shaun and Gilles have truly raised the bar for the Australian drinks industry and their dedication to their craft is evident in every sip of their premium vermouth and wine.
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