Fannys Bay Distillery

Fannys Bay Artisan Distillery is situated on the windswept northern coast of Tasmania at the home of Mathew & Julie Cooper. The Coopers have brought whisky making to the northern region of Tasmania. In 2014 distilling commenced and the first barrel was put down in November of that year. Today the distillery’s production is well under way with a selection of Bourbon, Port, Sherry, Shiraz and Pinot barrels lying in bond.

That square peg on a shelf of round bottles … that’s about Fannys Bay Distillery not quite fitting. A bit like a city tree changer landing in a new Tassie town, a craft beer lover turning their taste to whisky the first time or a non-conformer heading to uni at 60. At Fannys Bay, it doesn’t matter if you’re different. You’re welcome. In fact, you’re warmly embraced at this small-scale, artisanal distillery.

In these parts, don’t expect a tour though. There’s no big fancy distillery or high-tech automation buttons. There’s one man, driving a still by hand. With meticulous passion to honest distilling. That same man tweaks temps based on the weather and hand-chars every barrel; from French Oak to ex-bourbon. His time-honoured way follows the traditional Scottish method. Then comes the Tasmanian touch; the pristine rainwater, infused with nature’s perfect dose of sea spray. Years on, the whisky is ready for chief designer Julie to handwrite each label. She’s responsible for the distinctive French bottle in all its square glory. And, it’s fine cork hailing from Portugal.

Good things take time. The result is a smooth, mature, full palate with a refreshing hint of northern coastal waters to be savoured slowly. Little wonder this scarce drop has found its way into VIP casino lounges and world-class resorts. Few might have heard about Fannys Bay Distillery, but those in the know are swept away by its rare flavour profile and hand-crafted, seaside tale. The saliferous undertones may shift with the seasons – no bottle is the same as the next. But isn’t that how a square peg forever is? Not the same as the rest? Fannys Bay will never fit in a round bottle.

The Cellar Door is open Saturday, Sunday & Monday 9am – 5pm for online bookings, other times by appointment, contact Irene 0431 512 006 to ensure we are available.