Small batch spirits with a sense of place.
Sun, Sand, Sea, and Rum – Why wouldn’t anyone run away to the Caribbean? Having only weekends and evenings to indulge our creative passions wasn’t enough anymore and in 2016, we finally said it was time for a big change. We ditched our jobs, house, maple syrup, and Canadian winters to run away to Antigua. With a little trepidation and a lot of hope, our family of three (dad, mom, and 4-year-old) started a new chapter in Antigua.
David Murphy – Proprietor, Distiller.
After studying wine-making and viticulture in college and drinking many glasses of wine, David spent the next decade rising through the ranks at Summerhill Pyramid Winery learning the fine art of wine making with the guidance of famed Master Winemaker Eric Von Krosigk. Specializing in champagne method sparking wine, raised some bubbling questions about other related crafts. Seeing the many tons of organic aromatic grape skins being carried to the compost yard, David became curious with what could be done with such a beautiful ingredient. Borrowing a small still and reclaiming the discarded wine skins, naturally led to distilling becoming an obsession to create brandy, grappa and ultimately gin. It was only a matter of time before connecting the dots and coming home to build something extraordinary in Antigua.
Like a brilliant mad scientist, David has a passion to explore and experiment with every island botanical he can get his hands on. From searching through the bush for crazy looking cucumbers to learning how to wrestle with keeping tropical bees (many stings later), there isn’t a trek that David will shy away from to find that perfect ingredient.
Sonu Murphy – Marketing, Branding and Sales
Falling back into painting and design, has been an intoxicating and thrilling journey for this former professional turned budding artist, entrepreneur, and super mom. With a background in corporate administration, Sonu spent years fine tuning her skills in marketing, creative design, and sales. Resident artist and branding expert.
When not designing the latest label artwork or marketing campaign, Sonu, focuses her musings on life and movement in her original paintings. Stunning sunsets, whimsical fish, playful turtles, stoic octopus, and colorful jellyfish are all brought to life with a strong palette of bold, bright, and harmonious colors. Fascinated by views from the deep and island life, she aspires to tell a story with each piece of artwork. Her distinctive personal style communicates vibrance and joy.
As a child growing up in British Columbia, a place with a rich cultural heritage in first nations art and Canadian artists, Sonu was deeply inspired to create her own visual stories in paint. She works mainly in acrylic paint on canvas, metalwork or reclaimed and recycled wood. She also experiments in ink, creating graphics, tattoo art, and mandala style works. Her artwork varies in size from petite canvas to large murals.
Sonu’s work has been featured in solo and collaborative exhibitions on the island, and can also be found on labels designed for all Antilles Stillhouse products. She spends her days off lounging poolside with a cool Gin and Tonic, or making sand sculptures at the beach with her inspiration, her daughter.
Contact: Sonu.Murphy@gmail.com | Instagram @SonuMurphy
