Empire Liquor
A home for iconic British brews Empire Liquor is expanding its extensive imported wine and beer portfolio this year, as it continues to mould itself into the home of iconic British ales, porters and stouts.
Having established itself as one of Australia’s best authentic
Brenton Quirini Managing Director Empire Liquor
“I suppose I am more of a ‘traditionalist’, but if you consider
international wholesalers more than 27 years ago, Empire Liquor has
the popular beer styles made by craft brewers – not only from
continually extended its portfolio. Despite the difficulties of 2020,
Australia, but from around the world – many of them are
it has introduced a unique range of British beers earlier this year,
modelled on ales, porters, and stouts from the UK.
adding to an already mouth-watering selection of international beers.
“We have seen a new interest and appreciation for these classic
Empire Liquor’s Managing Director Brenton Quirini said: “The
beer styles over the past 12 months, not just from ‘old time’ British
addition of the highly awarded and respected brands of Greene King,
expats, but from the ‘new brigade’ of craft beer drinkers that have
Old Speckled Hen and Belhaven will increase our ability to provide
discovered these timeless brewing beauties and wish to experience
for enthusiasts of authentic British ales, porters and stouts nationally.”
authentic brewing history for themselves.”
He said these additions are part of Empire Liquor’s focus in
Quirini also told National Liquor News Empire Liquor has just
WHOLESALE
2021, centred on growing the national customer footprint through
secured a mixed container of Spanish wines from four smaller
new brands and new product distribution.
producers and regions, to offer new stocking opportunities of
“Brand stewardship is a core responsibility that I value, and we have enjoyed wonderful relationships with several beer and wine partners: many dating back to our establishment year of 1993.
organic reds and whites as a well as a great value Cava made by the sparkling winemaker for the Royal House of Spain. This is another example of Empire Liquor’s commitment to
Our aim is to be a brand custodian, with long-term partnerships
cross category brand custodianship, as Quirini noted: “This is an
and joint outcomes as key goals… These [new additions] will
authentic business, and it is an honour to represent this brand,
continue our policy of ‘all imported beers must be brewed in the
considering their history, awards, and reputation.”
country of origin and 100 per cent authentic’.” Empire Liquor’s expansion this year isn’t unfamiliar to the business’ history of exceptional selections for customers. Its beer journey started back in 1999, when Quirini seized an opportunity to enhance the portfolio by adding a selection of international beers alongside the existing wine range. “We reached out to several importers who were not actively represented in South Australia, as we already had the existing restaurant customers,” he said. “The addition of beers from Italy, China, Vietnam, Germany, and others was well received, and our portfolio developed from there. This worked extremely well for us, and we built a solid business on providing beer that was relevant to a customer experience.” In 2002 Empire began importing Hofbräu from Munich, Germany, and then in 2013 added Fuller’s from London, making it the first company in Australia to import Fuller’s in kegs. Through Quirini’s passion for offering Australian businesses the best of international brewers, Empire Liquor has become the home of British ales, porters and stouts. 48 | National Liquor News
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“If you consider the popular beer styles made by craft brewers – not only from Australia, but from around the world – many of them are modelled on ales, porters, and stouts from the UK.” – Brenton Quirini, Managing Director, Empire Liquor