The Creator

Colleen Walters is a Brisbane-based brand creator, master distiller, and experiential strategist behind Hot Shots, Australia's bold new rum liqueur built for ritual, nightlife, and cult appeal. With over a decade of experience in the fine food and spirits industry, Colleen has earned a reputation as a visionary

"Flavoursmith and hands-on creative force.

She is the Founder and Master Distiller of Botanik Craft Spirits, a boutique distillery known for its botanical-forward spirits and immersive tasting experiences. At Botanik, Colleen leads product development, distillation, and brand strategy-bringing her signature blend of technical precision and sensory storytelling to every bottle.

Colleen also serves as Non-Executive Director at Sydney Rum Distillery, where she helps guide the brand's premiumisation strategy and global expansion. Her leadership spans product innovation, market positioning, and strategic partnerships-bringing deep insight into what makes a spirits brand resonate across cultures.

Previously, Colleen was the Master Distiller at Comiskey Distillery, where she developed a full portfolio of premium spirits including vodka, gin, bourbon, and the signature Comiskey Whiskey. She was instrumental in launching the distillery's immersive gin workshops and cocktail training programs, blending hands-on education with brand-led experience design.

Before entering the spirits world, Colleen built Your Inspiration at Home T™ multi-million dollar gourmet food business that scaled across eight countries, including Australia, the UK, USA, Canada, and New Zealand. As Founder and CEO, she led the brand's rapid expansion through a direct sales model, empowering thousands of consultants to sell handcrafted spice blends, oils, teas, and specialty ingredients through personalized online stores and immersive tasting events. At its peak, the company offered over 168 products, won major business awards, and manufactured more than 500,000 units annually, becoming a household name in the gourmet food space.

Her work has earned her over 500 Fine Food and Spirits Awards across more than 300 products, including accolades from the Royal Sydney Fine Food Awards and international competitions. She is also an international spirits judge, serving on panels for prestigious events such as the Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and the Australian International Spirits Awards, where she evaluates entries for quality, innovation, and commercial excellence.

Colleen's expertise spans branding, packaging design, supplier sourcing, and event activation, making her uniquely equipped to build spirits brands from concept to cult status. Her approach is rooted in youth culture, ritual-driven branding, and immersive experiences-bringing together bold aesthetics, strategic market insight, and a deep understanding of what resonates with modern drinkers.

With Hot Shots, Colleen is crafting more than a product-she's building a movement. From the distressed flaming target logo to the modular market stalls and custom barware, every detail reflects her commitment to creating a brand that lives beyond the bottle.