Former Footballer Turns Native Ingredients into Global Spirit Brand

Former Kangaroos and Port Adelaide footballer Daniel Motlop has built a successful spirit company called Seven Seasons that uses native ingredients from Australia's Top End. The business has recently broken into the Asian market, most notably in Japan, and is now turning its focus toward Europe despite facing some export challenges. Seven Seasons features seven drinks in seven bottles, capturing the knowledge of the Larrakia people and the weather patterns of the Top End through items like whiskey infused with Larrakia paperbark smoke, monsoon barrel-aged gin, and green ant gin. Motlop spent a decade playing in the AFL for the Kangaroos in Melbourne and the Power in Port Adelaide before starting his post-football business. Growing up in Darwin, Motlop often shared native foods like magpie goose and Kakadu plums with his teammates. He notes that the famous green ant gin is linked to the windy season and is harvested based on sustainability practices.

Context

Native ingredients are increasingly being used in modern Australian food and drink businesses to highlight Indigenous culture and unique regional flavors. Companies that export alcohol internationally often have to navigate strict rules and customs requirements in different foreign markets. Former professional athletes frequently move into new business ventures after finishing their sporting careers on the field.