Try Australia’s Most Significant Whisky Distilleries

Are you looking for a truly unique experience? The rich heritage of whisky distilling Down Under has been alive and well for centuries, but there’s something special about experiencing it in person. 

Whether you’re after world-renowned single malts or small-batch boutique blends, set some time aside to explore this fascinating part of the land Down Under and visit some of Australia's most significant whisky distilleries while you're at it. 

In this blog post, we'll take an up close and personal look at five landmark spots that offer the chance to explore the thrilling history of these timeless craft spirits right here on Aussie soil.

Let's get started!

Tar Barrel offers only the finest beer and spirits crafted in the heart of Mornington Peninsula, Australia.

Corio Distillery

Several individuals have likened the taste of the distillery's whisky to the smell of gasoline, making it one of the most notorious whisky enterprises in all of Australia. In 1928, the Distillers Company Limited (DCL), headquartered in the United Kingdom and the biggest whisky producer in the globe at the time, constructed the massive distillery that is located just outside of Geelong. 

In the subsequent decades, it manufactured blended whisky, gin, and several other spirits with great success. But by the early 1960s, tons of containers of Corio whisky had already been sold in Australia and other countries across the world. But as the 1980s progressed, whisky's reputation started to decline, and the Corio Distillery ultimately proved unprofitable and shut its doors for good. 

However, before it did so, it was instrumental in the development of UDL cans, which were Australia's very first pre-mixed beverages. In more recent times, aficionados and collectors have reignited their interest in Corio in the hopes of tracking down bottles of what has become a very rare variety of Australian whisky.

McHenry Distillery

The fact that McHenry Distillery is located in the southernmost part of Australia gives it access to some of the purest air and water on the planet, which is reflected in the quality of its products. The distillery is located on the slope of Mount Arthur and looks out over Port Arthur. It also has a clear view of the South Pole, which is approximately 5000 kilometres away. 

They manufacture a Single Malt Whisky that is unlike any other, with a lovely and rich sweetness that predominates the aromas and provides access to more subtle aromas that interact very well among themselves. This whisky is unlike any other. Any whisky enthusiast who likes taking risks should make it a primary focus because it is one of the less basic goods on our list. A magnificent single malt whisky that may make Australia beam with pride.

Big River Distillery

Big River Distillery is popular among residents of Canberra thanks to its artisan spirits and creative production process. Their goal is to move away from conventional methods by sourcing high-quality herbs - a total of 14 of them - from both Australia and other countries. Taking a guided tour of the distillery or participating in a sampling there will instil in you a fuller understanding for the drinks produced using Canberra's pure water and fresh air.

Cradle Mountain Distillery

Although Cradle Mountain has existed since the early nineties, the distillery has remained relatively unknown despite being recognised as one of Australia's top stills. Also, among the most highly desirable brands of Australian whisky, the overwhelming majority of their spectrum is currently not available (due to the ageing mechanisms involved), so if you are interested in purchasing a bottle for yourself, we suggest contacting them. 

Fans of the brand are quick to purchase each new release as soon as it is made accessible, and the 17-year-old expressiveness is our top choice among all of the possible choices. This great whisky has a wonderful purity in the middle of the palate, which is, without a doubt, a result of the utilisation of the incredibly clean water from Tasmania in the distillation process.

Lark Distillery

The distillery that Bill and Lyn Lark started in the early nineties has had a significant impact on the way spirits are produced and consumed in modern-day Australia. The Larks have served as an important source of inspiration for the vast majority of the new whisky distilleries which have opened up in Australia over the past 30 years. 

And what began out as a hobby whisky-making enterprise in the Lark household has developed into the publically traded Lark Distilling Co., which already operates various distilleries throughout Tasmania and will shortly be selling Lark whisky to countries all over the world.

Try Lark Classic Cask Single Malt Whisky, which is considered to be the flagship product of the distillery. It is the greatest place to begin if you want to get a sense of Lark's DNA because it is malty and thick with a hint of smoke. You can sip it plain or mix it into drinks like the Old Fashioned, which calls for a whisky with more kick.

Black Gate Distillery

A distillery that prefers to keep things straightforward can be found in the middle of New South Wales. Black Gate Distillery, which can be reached by automobile in around 5 hours from Sydney, is known for producing single malt whisky, dark rum, and quandong liqueur, utilising time-honoured production techniques and premium-quality materials. Discover more of the finest distilleries that New South Wales has to offer.

Limeburners

Limeburners caused a stir in the whisky world in 2016 when its Heavy Peated Whisky, with 122 proof and a price tag of $700 AUD, won the top award at Australia's Champion Whisky Trophy. Still, now we're going to talk about something that is more easily accessible. 

The Director's Cut Peated Sherry, a cask-strength single-barrel whisky that retails for close to $370 AUD, is our pick for the best bottle of whisky produced by this Australian firm. The present offering's taste of sweet sherry and malt, deep chocolate, prunes, and stewed fruits is delicious to us, and we highly recommend it. After the sherry aromas, the peat characteristics emerge, which is an absolutely beautiful development.

Trapper’s Hut

Because hardly anyone we trust is capable of getting their hands on a bottle of Trapper's Hut, and their site is still not maintained in years, which further contributes to the ambiguity of this exceedingly rare Australian whisky, we are unable to locate any reviewing comments for it. 

Trapper's Hut isn't a distillery in and of itself; rather, it is the term referring to the single barrel deliveries from Tasmania Distillery that were manufactured between 1999 and 2000 and were purchased and aged individually. These deliveries were granted the label "Trapper's Hut." 

Because each barrel is bottled and distributed individually, one at a time, there are less and fewer of them available. The abridged form of this advice is as follows: get a bottle at any price if you happen to come across one. Considering its lineage, one can reasonably presume that it is as mouthwateringly wonderful as Australian whisky gets. Unfortunately, its price is only going to continue to rise.

Fonzie Abbott

The world's only roastery, brewery, and distillery are all housed in the same building at Fonzie Abbott, making it a one-stop shop for necessary swills. However, the distillery is by no means a simple side hustle; rather, it strives to chart its own path and has been recognised for its Wishbone Spirits portfolio with honours, including a gold medal at the 2019 Australian Gin Awards. 

Safely tucked in a building on a side alley in Albion, the location is just as cool as the idea, thanks to its clean and industrial feel and its different cooling zones that keep you refreshed from morning until night. Visit the Taproom to sample some beers and drinks, and on the way out, do not even hesitate to pick up a bottle or two to add to your inventory before you go. Believe us, you'll want to show it off to everyone.

Bakery Hill

Bakery Hill can be found near Balwyn North, only thirty minutes away from the central business district of Melbourne. This brand of Australian whisky has been in operation since the year 2000, and it was publicly accessible to the general public for the very first time in 2003; therefore, it is by no means a novice to the world of Australian drams. 

The collection at Bakery Hill features a single cask malt that is either peated or unpeated, with the option to purchase either type at cask strength if that is what the customer prefers. Our favourite is the non-peated cask strength, which starts out a touch harsh on the tongue, but the sweetness that builds up as it goes down is more than enough to make up for it.

Sullivans Cove Distillery

After its establishment in 1994, the now-famous Sullivans Cove in Tasmania endured a troubled beginning to its history. However, when Patrick Maguire, a former employee of a pathology department, assumed control of the company in 2004, he made it his mission to create the finest whisky that his abilities would allow him to make. As a result, when Sullivans Cove French Oak was named the best single malt in the world at the World Whiskies Awards in 2014, his work was rewarded in the most meaningful way possible. 

The Australian whisky industry may now look back on this as a defining event in its history. All that Sullivans Cove bottles nowadays are gone nearly as soon as it is put on the market, and the distillery will shortly move to a different location that will put it closer to the cove in Hobart, which is where this unbelievable triumph story began.

One of the best examples of single-malt whisky produced in Australia is Sullivans Cove American Oak Single Cask, which you should try. It has been aged in ex-bourbon casks that are 200 litres in capacity, which reveals the malt, citrous, and cereal undertones that are present in the Sullivans distillation. Since this is among the oldest Australian whiskies bottled without interruption, it is recommended to be consumed neat.

Young Henry’s

The first whisky ever produced by Young Henrys was produced and aged in barrels in Tasmania in the year 2000, and only 381 bottles of this exceptional whisky were ever produced. The super rare whisky is an 18-year-old bottling that was matured for a total of 2 years in Australian Apera Sherry casks before being packaged by hand in November of 2018. 

However, we are pleased to report that it can still be purchased on the official website of the company, which can be seen below. One of our absolute favour is the well-balanced flavour profile of sweet cereal notes, orange marmalade, chewy caramel, and traditional French oak. In addition, the aftertaste is packed with notes of candied lemon peel and leatherwood honey.

Starward/New World Whisky Distillery

When David Vitale established Starward in 2009, one of his primary goals was to create a whisky that was not only inexpensive but also uniquely Australian and was capable of competing with the best single malts from across the world. Ever since Starward has established itself as Australia's whisky with the broadest distribution. 

After getting his start at Lark Distillery, Vitale travelled back to Melbourne to pursue his dream of establishing Starward Whisky. The first distillery on the site was constructed in an abandoned Qantas plane in Essendon Fields. In 2016, the distillery relocated to its current location in Port Melbourne, which is the home of the brand. 

Ever since, a variety of notable whisky productions, such as the well-known Starward Two Fold Double Grain Whisky, have served to firmly establish Starward as among the world's most fascinating manufacturers. Among these whiskies, product launches are the Starward Two Fold Double Grain Whisky.

You may try out Starward Nova. Single Malt whisky is the type of whisky that Starward is attempting to enamour people all over the world with. The Nova is aged solely in Australian red wine casks, which impart a plethora of berries as well as a touch of spice into the consistently fruit-forward Starward. Excellent when consumed neat, but also delicious when mixed with tonic or used in a more serious cocktail like the Boulevardier.

Morris Rutherglen

Another young and promising Australian Whiskey brand that has gained our attention is Morris Whisky due to the extensive variety of offerings as well as their equally mouthwatering quality. Over the years, we have had the opportunity to sample a good number of the containers, but the Single Malt Muscat Barrel is the one that stands out the most to us. 

It has a velvety texture and a taste that is characterised by rich dark fruits, sweet malt flavours, vanilla, cocoa, and cinnamon spice. In 2022, during the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, this exact drop was recognised with the GOLD medal.

Poor Toms Gin Hall

Poor Tom's Gin Hall is unpretentious, enigmatic, and stylish all at the same time. It is located in a building in Marrickville. The hall itself has a church-like atmosphere, complete with a rising archway that is illuminated from within, bathrooms that resemble confessionals, and a shrine or temple that is dedicated to Poor Toms' gin god, Ginsus. Poor Tom's Gin Hall is a juniper lovers' paradise and is available on the weekends (Friday through Sunday). On the list, house gins can be ordered in the shape of a traditional G&T, shaken as a martini, or as an exquisite, fruity drink. The floral strawberry gin and tonic is one of the restaurant's most popular drinks.

Sullivan’s Cove

Sullivan's Cove is the standard by which all other Australian whiskies are measured, thus, no list of the greatest distilleries in Australia would've been completed without including it. Its seamless single malts are one of the most famous pours exported from the region, with the Oak Single Cask variants winning the title of "World's Best Single Cask Single Malt" at the World Whiskies Awards in both 2018 and 2019. 

This makes it the sole distillery in the history of the globe to ever receive the distinction two times. The distillery is accessible seven days a week and provides supervised sampling and tours; sampling slots are made available one month ahead of time.

Archie Rose Distilling Co

Archie Rose, based in Sydney, has emerged as a dominant force in the Australian alcohol industry in a relatively short amount of time. The multi-spirit strategy employed by the distillery, which was established in 2015 by marketing specialist Will Edwards, has resulted in the successful production of virtually any sort of spirit that can be conceived of. 

Additionally, Archie Rose's whiskies, gins, vodkas, and even rums have routinely won the greatest accolades in the world's leading spirits competitions. This is true for all of Archie Rose's beverages. The whisky side of the business saw a big expansion the year before last when Archie Rose's new state-of-the-art distillery in Banksmeadow opened for business there. 

Because of this facility, Archie Rose now ranks among the biggest whisky manufacturers in the region, and the cutting-edge distillation programme that is currently being created there is hoping to steer Australian whisky in a different direction.

Archie Rose Rye Malt Whisky is worth a shot. There's a purpose this was named the greatest rye whisky in the world the previous year. The dark, gingery, and herbal flavours that it possesses are beautifully matched and sweetened by the excellent new American oak casks that are used in its maturation. A fantastic rye for straight drinking, or you can experiment with it in a Manhattan.

Nant

It would be unethical for us to compile a list of the finest Australian whisky companies and omit the illustrious Nant distillery from it. Although the distillery might well have closed down as we understand it following, the product was revealed to be one of the largest Ponzi schemes in the historical past of Australian spirits. Their legal problems might very well truly be more rational to snatch up a few of their tasty single malts while their destiny continues to remain slightly unsure. 

In the instance of Nant's Bourbon Wood Single Cask, which received a massive score of 95.5 in Jim Murray's 2015 whisky bible, the second market rate of about $ AUD ought to be a sufficient indication that this drop is a rare one. 

When taking into consideration that this is a significant alcohol with an alcohol content of 63%, the bite is significant on the front taste. Still, it is accompanied by a lovely note of wood and a really lengthy finish. One of the most impressive examples of contemporary Australian whisky that is available for purchase.

Margaret River Distilling Co.

While taking in the majesty of the forest, treat your taste buds to the effervescent spirit of gins and whisky! The Margaret River Distillery Company was established in 2015 and is a subsidiary of the renowned Great Southern Distilling Company, who introduced its first whisky to the market in Albany in the year 2008. 

This hands-on adventure, which is the home of Giniversity, enables dedicated participants to distil their very own gin, which is then flavoured with a unique combination of herbs. In addition, many people come to try a flight of gins like the native, pink, smoked hemp, and barrel-aged gins. These are the kinds of gins that are ideal for sipping on the deck while enjoying sharing foods. 

While you're here, make sure to try some of their speciality whiskies like the Limeburners, Tiger Snake, and Dugite. Make a reservation in advance at the Riverglen Chalets located on the premises, and you'll have a quick walk to your self-contained lodging, which will include decks that face out over the verdant forest.

Underground Spirits

Underground Spirits is, without a doubt, Canberra's most decorated distillery, and for a valid reason. It was established by Toby Angstmann, who was, no joke, a robotic surgeon in his previous life. They are differentiated by two things: obtaining local, top-tier materials, including clear spring water from the Snowy Mountains, and the creation of a groundbreaking cryofiltration method. 

These things are associated with innovation and excellence, and they set them apart (aka eliminating impurities). What is the result? Among the finest drinks, your palate senses have ever experienced. Please take a tour of their distillery and sample original drinks inspired by the distillers' ability to measure each serving precisely.