Hunter Island Distillery

After more than a decade of making triple-distilled Tasmanian single malts, he and Madeleine decided to pursue the brave new world of pot still whisky.

Innovation has always been important to us, and Hunter Island Distillery was established in 2019 as the first distillery in Australia dedicated solely to the production of pot still whisky and poitin. It involved a deep dive into Ireland’s whiskey tradition and a belief that Tasmania’s whisky-making ingredients and conditions were well-suited to adapt to this traditional Irish whiskey style, which was noted for its deep characters and complexity.

Hunter Island Distillery produces Hunter Island Tasmanian Pot Still Whisky and Poitin. Both are created from a mixed mash bill of malted barley, raw barley and oats and are triple distilled in copper pot stills, giving them a real point of difference. Our whisky is characterised by its creamy mouthfeel, deep fruity characters and peppery spice. More than anything, it’s the grains that set this spirit apart from other whiskies being made on this island, and we use only locally-grown grains.

Mashing and fermentation take place offsite, but we work very closely with our brewers. We’ve made the decision to hold off on using the word ‘single’ in our products until all processes are taking place at a single distillery. Distilling operations are completed onsite in our Knapp- Lewer copper pot still, and maturation takes place in one of our two bond stores. We use only oak casks, predominantly ex-bourbon, port and sherry, and we’re constantly testing, tasting and experimenting with finishes and marriages.

Our first casks were released for sale in March 2023. Hunter Island Distillery is named after a small rocky island that once stood on Hobart’s waterfront. In 1804, when the British arrived, this is where they dropped anchor, and all new arrivals and cargo passed through the island on their way to shore (via a sand bar, which later became Hunter Street). Many of the new arrivals were Irish, and they brought to the island of Tasmania a culture that has endured and evolved- including a whisk(e)y culture.