The founding brewer of Burleigh Heads-based Hard FIZZ has launched Australia’s first liqueur spirit featuring a functional ingredient, Spark.

Paul Wootton has used natural flavours as well as guarana, which is classed as a functional ingredient, with hints of strawberry and grape, to create his new vodka brand Spark.

The spirit is a reimagining of an early Hard FIZZ blend called FIZZ X, which was an alcoholic take on energy drinks.

Wootton said the idea had been percolating for several years after hearing bartenders wanting to bring back the ‘shot culture’.

“In another role, venues around the Gold Coast were telling me they wanted to find something to bring back good old-fashioned shots,” he said.

“Everyone I spoke to was saying the same thing: “We only have a few options and it’s either vodka, tequila or party shots’ – that’s when I had the idea for Spark.

“It’s the functional ingredient, that being guarana which naturally contains energy, that makes it unique. I’ve seen a few similar concepts in Brazil but nothing in Australia.

“We did FIZZ X a few years ago and that had a bit of a cult following at the time, but I always wanted to explore those functional ingredients in spirits some more so I’ve branched out on my own with Spark.

“Consumers are quite adventurous these days with their drinking palette, and willing to give new types of alcohol a go.”

The Gold Coast is forging a name for itself as a hub for premium spirits with six distilleries in the Burleigh area.

“The Gold Coast is really supportive of the alcohol industry,” Wootton said.

“Those industrial precincts at the back of Burleigh Heads are really suited to alcohol production, so there’s definitely a scene there.

“Breweries were a bit of a ‘thing’ a couple of years ago, and there’s still some great ones around, but the market is turning back to premium spirits, and I think the Gold Coast can position itself well with the right support.”