History

Belgrove Distillery is located in Kempton, Tasmania, and is one of the few whisky distilleries in the world producing 100% on-site – from grain cultivation to malting, fermentation, distillation and maturation. Rye is grown and distilled by Peter Bignell, and the distillery is described as an estate whisky, where each phase takes place on the Belgrove property – paddock to bottle. The distillery runs on biodiesel and is part of a closed-loop, small-batch production with a focus on sustainability, a low CO2 footprint and the use of by-products in the farm’s cycle.

Production / Manufacturing

Belgrove describes that the copper pot still is built from the ground up and is directly heated with biofuel, which comes from used cooking oil from a neighboring shop. The hot water heating is also powered by biofuel, and the farm’s tractors, forklifts and trucks run on biodiesel produced from used cooking oil. The spent mash is given to sheep at Belgrove, cooling water comes from the dam, and the wastewater is recycled or used for irrigation. Fermentation and other processes are also optimized to reuse resources. The entire operation is described as sustainable, closed-loop and with a low environmental footprint – terms such as “sustainable”, “closed loop” and “green” are used to describe the philosophy.

Products / Whisky Series

• Rye Whisky 46% ABV – 500 ml (Rye Whisky, 46%)
• White Rye – 40% ABV – 500 ml (White Rye Whisky, 40%)
• Rye Whisky 250 ml – 45% ABV
• Wholly Shit – Natural Cask Strength 60.66% – Single Cask – 2nd Fill Bourbon (Cask Strength, Rye-based) – 500 ml
• Wholly Shit Smokin’ Barrel – 52% ABV – 500 ml (smoky notes)
• Big Smokin Barrel – Very Smokey Rye Whisky – 51% ABV – 500 ml (very smoky)
• Peated Rye Whisky – 50% ABV – 500 ml (rye with smoke notes, not fully peated)
• Rye Whisky - ex TBone Big Old Stout Cask – 59% ABV – 500 ml (rye aged in stout cask)
• Rye Whisky Single Cask – French Oak – 42.5% ABV – 500 ml (single cask)
• Rye Whisky - ex TBone Big Old Stout Cask 59% (repeated above)
• Oat Whisky Batch 8 – 54% ABV – 500 ml (Oat Whisky) – blend of ex-Rum and ex-Peach Sour Beer (batch-specific)
• Oat Whisky Batch 6/8 – 54% ABV – 500 ml (Oat Whisky) – generally described as small batches
• Remnant Single Malt Whisky 500 ml – 44% ABV (Remnant Whisky Company, Belgrove) – available via Remnant Whisky Website
• Belgrove White Rye (listed as White Rye above)
• Belgrove Pommeau – 20% ABV – 500 ml (apple cider-based liqueur)
• Black Rye Coffee Liqueur – 22% ABV – 500 ml (grappa and white rye base)
• Boxed Gift Set – variants with Rye Whisky, Black Rye, Pommeau, Hopped Malt Whisky and other combinations
• Bits’A Frankenstein – 40.4% ABV – blended “BITS” from Belgrove’s rest spirits, aged in French red wine and oak casks
• Rye Whisky 250 ml and Rye Whisky 500 ml / 500 ml bottles listed in the range
• Rye Whisky - French Oak Single Cask 42.5% and Rye Whisky 46% (multiple packaging)
• Remnant Single Malt Whisky (see above) – produced through external bottling, but marketed via Belgrove

Visits / Experiences

Visit Belgrove Distillery: By Appointment Only. Contact details and opening hours can be found on the site (contact us).

Philosophy

Belgrove describes a sustainable, closed-loop philosophy where all major materials come from the farm, and primary uses are replacing waste products and using biofuel as an energy source. Spent mash is used as feed for sheep, water supply comes from the dam, and wastewater is recycled or used for irrigation. Yeast is often reused, and knowledge and production are kept locally on the Belgrove Estate – paddock to bottle. The distillery emphasizes small batches, craftsmanship and local terroir (The Land, The Grain, The Still) as central elements of their identity.