::: Australian whisky distilleries ::.

Australia is currently home to nineteen active whisky distilleries.

This page contains short summaries on each of the active Australian whisky distilleries. Further information about each Australian distillery can be found by clicking on the link to their website.

There have been a number of other distilleries which have operated in Australia in the past, but since closed. The Closed distilleries page has some information on these distilleries.

Bakery Hill website

The Bakery Hill distillery is located in North Balwyn, Victoria, Australia.

The distillery was established by David Baker, a former biochemist. The distillery uses single casks only (no blending of casks) and the whisky is bottled at cask strength. The whiskies are matured in barrels that have been broken down and rebuilt into 50 and 100 litre barrels, providing for greater surface area contact with the wood. The Distillery does not chill-filter or use caramel to enhance the appearance of their whiskies.

The Bakery Hill range includes: Bakery Hill Cask Strength Peated Malt, Bakery Hill Cask Strength Classic Single Malt, Bakery Hill Classic Single Malt, Bakery Hill Peated Malt, Bakery Hill Double Wood Malt and the Bakery Hill Peated Malt "Cask 14". A Miniature Range and 10 Litre Oak cask are also available.

Belgrove Distillery website

The Belgrove Distillery is located at 3121 Midland Highway, Kempton, Tasmania, Australia.

The distillery was established by Peter Bignell in 2010. The distillery produces Australia's first 100% rye spirit using grain grown on the Belgrove farm.

Peter built his own 500 litre copper pot still, which is direct fired by homemade biodiesel. The handmade copper still is reportedly the only biodiesel-powered still in the world.

Two 'new make' spirits have been released so far, which are technically not whisky as they haven't been aged in oak. The distillery intends to mature their spirit in oak barrels to produce a 100% rye whisky in the future.

Black Gate Distillery website

Black Gate Distillery is located in Mendooran, New South Wales, Australia.

The distillery is owned and operated by husband and wife team Brian & Genise Hollingworth. The boutique distillery opened in January 2012.

Black Gate Distillery currently produces a range of spirits and liqueurs, with a single malt whisky tentatively scheduled for release in 2015.

The first whisky distillation used wash ('fermented wort' - similar to beer) supplied by the Mudgee Brewing Company. The initial production produced three 100 litre casks of spirit (two of which are peated). The distillery is now mashing and brewing (producing the wash) on site.

They expect to release their first single malt whisky in 2015, depending on how the maturation progresses. The whisky is being matured in ex-Sherry casks.

The cellar door is open for tastings and sales on Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 5pm.

Castle Glen Australia website. Also here and here.

Castle Glen Australia is located at 3184 Amiens Road, The Summit, Queensland, Australia. Owned and operated by Cedric Millar and Carol-Anne Millar, it was originally established in 1990 as a winery.

Castle Glen Australia now operates as a winery, brewery and distillery - having been granted a brewery and distillation licence in 2009. Led by winemaker, brewer and distiller Cedric Millar, Castle Glen Australia produces a range of products including beer, liqueur, wine and whiskey.

In 2012 the distillery released 'Castle Glen Limited Edition 2 year old Whiskey'. Castle Glen use the spelling commonly associated with American and Irish whiskey - including the 'e' in whiskey. The first release is limited to 100 bottles.

The single malt whiskey was produced using the same Swiss malt used for their beer. The whiskey is double distilled before being aged in oak for a minimum of two years. No colourings, flavourings or additives are used in producing Castle Glen Whiskey.

Corowa Whisky & Chocolate website

The Corowa Whisky distillery is located in Corowa, New South Wales, Australia.

The distillery is based in the old Corowa Flour Mill. After being vacant for almost 40 years, restoration work commenced in September 2009.

Corowa Whisky intend to produce Australia's first organic single malt whisky using locally sourced, certified organic grain.

Great Southern Distilling Company website

Limeburners Whisky website

The Great Southern Distilling Company Distillery is located in Albany, Western Australia, Australia.

The only single malt whisky distillery in Western Australia, the distillery launched the first (legal) single malt whisky in Western Australia's history in April 2008. Along with a range of other (non-whisky) spirits, the distillery produces Limeburners Single Malt Whisky. The name is derived from the local 'Limeburners Creek' - which was named after the lime burning process once performed in the area by convicts.

The distillery uses single casks only, no barrels are blended. The distillery sources peat from the nearby Porongurup ranges for the peated Limeburners whiskies.

Limeburners whiskies are non chill-filtered and no artificial colouring is added.

The Limeburners Single Malt Whisky range includes: Limeburners Single Malt Whisky, Limeburners Single Malt Whisky - Barrel Strength, and the Limeburners - Single Malt Peated Whisky. Each offering in the range will indicate a particular barrel. For example, there is the 'Limeburners Single Malt Whisky - M2 First Release': with 'M2' being the barrel from which the whisky was drawn. A Limeburners Whisky Liqueur is also available.

In 2012 the distillery released Australia's first legal sour mash whiskey. 'Tiger Snake Sour Mash Whiskey' is made using the sour mash process, a technique which is used in America to produce Tennessee Whiskey and Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. Tiger Snake Sour Mash Whiskey is made from a mix of Australian corn, rye and barley.

Hellyers Road website

Hellyers Road Distillery is located in Burnie, Tasmania, Australia.

The distillery is named after Henry Hellyer. As one of the first European explorers to brave the interior of north-west Tasmania; Hellyer created the first road into the rugged Tasmanian wilderness with the scarcest of resources. This road, now known as Old Surrey Road - leads up to Hellyers Road Distillery.

Australia's largest single malt whisky distillery, Hellyers Road is owned by the Betta Milk cooperative. Owner Laurie House has applied his knowledge from operating a milk processing plant to create a highly automated, modern whisky distillery.

Hellyers Road whiskies are non chill-filtered and no artificial colouring is added.

The Hellyers Road Distillery range includes: Hellyers Road Original Single Malt Whisky, Hellyers Road Single Malt Whisky - Slightly Peated, Hellyers Road Single Malt Whisky - Peated, Hellyers Road Southern Fire Single Malt Whisky, and the Hellyers Road Single Malt Whisky finished in Pinot Noir Casks. Hellyers Road also offers the Hellyers Road Whisky Cream Liqueur (Original, Coffee or Hazelnut).

Hoochery Distillery website

Hoochery Distillery is located in Kununurra, Western Australia, Australia.

The Distillery was established in 2005 by Raymond Bernard Dessert III, known locally as 'Spike Dessert'. The distillery name comes from the word 'Hooch' which reputedly goes back to the Hutanuwu (later Hoochinoo) Indian tribe of Alaska, who made alcoholic liquor. 'Hooch' later became a popular term for illegally distilled alcohol ('bootlegging').

The Hoochery Distillery produces a range of spirits and liquors, including the 'Raymond B. Whiskey', which is a 100% corn mash whiskey. 'Raymond B. Whiskey' is made from corn grown in the Kimberley and is mahogany charcoal filtered. This whiskey is currently unavailable.

Lark Distillery website

Lark Distillery is located in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

When it was established in 1992, Lark Distillery was the first distillery to operate in Tasmania since 1839. Lark Distillery was the vision of Bill Lark, who realised that everything needed for a world-class whisky is on offer in Tasmania - the highest quality barley, pure soft water, highland peat bogs and the perfect climate for maturation. Bill Lark's epiphany of producing Tasmanian single malt whisky apparently occurred on a trout fishing trip in the highlands of Tasmania. As Bill enjoyed a dram of single malt whisky with his father in-law, surrounded by barley fields and the gentle flowing of the Clyde River, Bill remarked, "I wonder why there isn't anyone making malt whisky in Tasmania". To realise his vision of producing Tasmanian single malt whisky, he would face some hurdles. The most pressing being that Australian law decreed the minimum still size as 2700 litres, which was far too large for his boutique requirements. With the support of a local Member of Parliament, he was successful in getting the Distillation Act of 1901 changed. This was a significant step towards establishing not only Lark Distillery, but also the other whisky distilleries that followed around Australia.

Lark Distillery uses smaller 50 and 100 litre oak casks, allowing for greater surface area contact with the wood and faster maturation. Lark Distillery uses single casks only, no cask are blended. Uncommonly, the whiskies are all Kosher Certified.

The Lark Distillery range includes: Lark Single Malt Whisky, Lark Single Malt Whisky - Cask Strength, and Lark Single Malt Whisky Distillers Selection. Lark Distillery also offers a Slainté Malt Whisky Liqueur.

Mackey's Distillery website

Mackey's Distillery is located in Tasmania, Australia.

Whisky is currently in maturation, no whisky has been released yet. Reportedly triple distilled, paying tribute to owner Damien Mackey's Irish heritage.

Nant Distillery website

Nant Distillery is located in Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia.

The Nant Distillery was established by Keith and Margaret Batt, starting with the restoration of the Nant Estate which commenced in 2005. The Nant Distillery is unique in having the only commercially operating water-powered flour mill in Australia; which is used to grist the barley used in the whisky production process. The mill was built in 1823 and has been fully restored. The heritage listed stable complex on the Nant Estate is also being converted in order to undertake traditional floor malting of the barley.

The first whisky to be released by Nant Distillery was the Nant Double Malt (a vatted malt), which included whisky sourced from another Tasmanian distillery. Nant Distillery released their first estate-produced single malt whisky in 2010. The First Release Nant Single Malt was rated 91.9% in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2011. The First Release Nant Single Malt was matured in 20 litre French oak ex-Port casks and then finished in American oak ex-Sherry casks. The public can also invest in 100 litre barrels of single malt whisky, which will be stored on the estate in government registered bond stores.

New World Whisky Distillery website

Starward Whisky website

The New World Whisky Distillery is located in Essendon Fields, Victoria, Australia. It was previously known as Victoria Valley Distillery.

Victoria Valley Distillery was established in 2007 by David Vitale, Lark Distillery and private investors. It was later renamed New World Whisky Distillery.

Their single malt whisky, named 'Starward', was first released in February 2013. Starward Whisky is produced from 100% Australian barley and matured in Australian ex-Apera (Sherry) casks. Re-coopered 50, 100 and 200 litre casks are used in a portfolio approach.

The whisky is bottled at 43% Alcohol by volume (ABV), no additives or colourings are used.

Old Hobart Distillery website

The Old Hobart Distillery is located in Tasmania, Australia.

Old Hobart Distillery is a family-owned business established by Casey Overeem in 2005. Casey's interest in whisky production was inspired by his first experience of distilling at a relative's house in Norway in the early 1980s. "Many people had micro-distilleries in their cellars and I really admired them, so I started experimenting when I got home" - Casey Overeem. Casey determined that Tasmania offered the perfect climate and ingredients for producing single malt whisky. Following years of research and experimentation, the Old Hobart Distillery commenced commercial production in 2005.

Old Hobart Distillery officially launched their First Release whiskies on 8 December 2011. The First Release whiskies are single cask bottles that are individually numbered and come with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The Old Hobart Distillery whisky range includes: Port Matured Overeem Single Malt Whisky (43% ABV), Port Matured Overeem Single Malt Whisky - Cask Strength (60% ABV), Sherry Matured Overeem Single Malt Whisky (43% ABV), and Sherry Matured Overeem Single Malt Whisky - Cask Strength (60% ABV).

Redlands Distillery website

Redlands Distillery is located on the Redlands Estate in Tasmania, Australia.

In 1819, Redlands was granted to George Frederick Read, the outcast son of King George IV of England.

Redlands Distillery is a 'paddock to bottle' single malt whisky distillery.

They grow their our own Franklin Brewing Barley, draw water from the Plenty River running through the property, steep and floor malt the barley and mash and distil in their circa 1857 granary building.

A cooper prepares French oak barrels on site and the spirit is matured in their 1860's Oast House (hop kiln). The distillery uses barrels sourced from local Tasmanian vineyards.

In addition to single malt whisky, which is still in maturation, Redlands Distillery will also produce a range of schnapps and liqueurs.

Tasmania Distillery website

Tasmania Distillery is located in Cambridge, Tasmania, Australia.

Tasmania Distillery was established in 1994 on the banks of the River Derwent at Sullivans Cove, the site where the British planted their flag and began to build the settlement that became the City of Hobart, Australia's second oldest city. 'Sullivans Cove' was chosen as the name for the whisky, to pay homage to the history of the site. With a change of ownership in 2003 the barrelled whisky, still and equipment was relocated to Cambridge, a quiet village on the outskirts of Hobart.

Sullivans Cove whiskies are non chill-filtered and no colouring is used to enhance appearance.

The Sullivans Cove whisky range includes: Sullivans Cove Double Cask (French and American oak casks), Sullivans Cove Cask Strength (French oak, Port cask), Sullivans Cove Cask Strength (American Oak, Bourbon cask), and Franklin River Single Malt. The distillery also offers two and five litre barrels of Sullivans Cove Whisky, as well as the Salamanca Apple Whisky Liqueur, Salamanca Cream Whisky Liqueur, and D'Entrecasteaux Honey Whisky Liqueur.

Timboon Railway Shed Distillery website

Timboon Railway Shed Distillery is located in Timboon, Victoria, Australia.

The distillery was established in November 2007 by Tim Marwood and his wife Caroline Simmons. The circa 1910 railway goods shed was renovated to accommodate a gourmet food providore, restaurant and distillery. The distillery uses an Australian-made 600 litre copper pot still, manufactured by Knapp Lewer Contracting (based in Hobart, Tasmania).

The Timboon Railway Shed Distillery produces a range of spirits and liquors, including single malt whisky. Their previous release was the 'John Christie's Single Malt Whisky'. The current release is the 'Timboon Second Release Single Malt' which is matured in ex-Port casks.

Triptych Distillery website

Triptych Distillery is located in Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia.

Triptych Distillery intends to specialise in small batch distillery output, using produce from the Yarra Valley region of Victoria, Australia.

The Triptych Distillery intends to produces a range of spirits and liquors, including whiskey.

Wild Swan Distilling Company website

The Wild Swan Distilling Company is located in Swan Valley, Western Australia, Australia.

The distillery was established in 2002 and produces a range of spirits and liquors, including 'Wild Swan Whisky'.

Whisky is currently in maturation, no whisky has been released yet.

William McHenry & Sons Distillery website

Australia's most southern distillery, the William McHenry & Sons Distillery is located at 229 Radnor Road, Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia.

The family run distillery was established by William McHenry in 2011 and will produce a range of single batch spirits. Whisky is currently in maturation and no whisky has been released yet.

While their own whisky stocks are maturing, William McHenry & Sons have released a 10 year old whisky produced by another Tasmanian distillery. 'Three Capes Whisky' was distilled at the Tasmania Distillery in Cambridge and is bottled at 43.5% ABV.

Development of larger distillery and visitor facilities is currently underway. Prior to completion of the development, visitors are welcome by appointment. Bookings can be made by phone on 03 6250 2533 or 0417 559 967.

Information on closed Australian distilleries can be found here: Closed distilleries

Tasmanian Heartwood Malt Whisky

Tasmanian Heartwood Malt Whisky website

Tasmanian Heartwood Malt Whisky are located in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

They do not distill their own whisky, rather they are independent bottlers of aged Tasmanian whisky. As at January 2012, Tasmanian Heartwood Malt Whisky have 8,500 litres of whisky aging in 200 and 300 litre oak barrels.

Their first bottling was the 12 year old Mt Wellington Release, distilled in November 1999 (cask number HH0052) and bottled at 62.4% ABV in December 2011. The whisky was distilled at the Tasmania Distillery by Bill Lark.

Trapper's Hut

Trapper's Hut website

Trapper's Hut are located in Margate, Tasmania, Australia.

Trapper's Hut do not distill their own whisky, they bottle single cask whisky distilled by the Tasmania Distillery (see distillery details above).

Their first bottling was the Trapper's Hut Single Cask Malt Whisky, barrel: HH 350 - which was distilled by the Tasmania Distillery in June 2000. The second release of the Trapper's Hut Single Cask Malt Whisky is from barrel: HH 348 and was bottled in January 2010.

Trapper's Hut Single Cask Malt Whisky was matured in 200 litre American oak ex-Bourbon barrels. The whisky is non chill-filtered and unpeated.

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