History

Bellarine Distillery was established in 2015 and is the first distillery on the Bellarine Peninsula. The family is owner-operated and independent. The distillery was founded by Russ Watson & Lorelle Warren; in 2017 Nicky and Craig Michael joined the team, with Craig later becoming Head Distiller. We began commercial production of premium gin and single malt whiskey in 2018, inspired by the long tradition of distillation and maturation. The tasting room The Whiskery opened to the public on 25 April 2018. The distillery won Australian Gin Distillery of the Year 2022 at the Melbourne International Spirits Festival. The location is Drysdale on the Bellarine side of the Geelong region; the estate had historic fruit trees and was previously a poultry farm. The history also notes that we have focused on science, experimentation and innovation in our approach to gin and whiskey.

Production

Our approach has been to craft whiskey through experience and experimentation since 2018. The new spirit we produce has a weighty, buttery mouthfeel with dark fruit notes such as dried apricots. We have developed a double maturation process in the Oak series, where the first maturation is in red-wine French oak barrels from Victoria and subsequently a second maturation in American bourbon barrels. Small casks, such as 30 L, are used for the Oak series to achieve a more fine-grained and controlled maturation profile; the Angels' Share is expected to affect the volume in the cask. The new make spirit matures on-site.

Products/ Whisky Series

The Oak series is our first flagship range and consists of single malts. Batch 2 is CURRENT and Batch 1 and 3 are described in the material; Batch 3 is expected on 1 March 2025. Notes include that the nose features cinnamon, apple crumble and custard; palate: caramel fudge and jellies; finish: honey and spice. Kestrel is a limited rare release single malt whisky aged 4 years in a refill Apera cask with notes of jamón serrano, beeswax, prune jam and walnuts in the finish; Aquila Audax is upcoming and aged in first-fill oloroso sherry and finished in a refill bourbon cask; notes include bakery, fruit and spices. Oak Batch 3 is an upcoming release; Batch 2 was described as fuller in mouthfeel with 2-3 years of maturation; The Oak is double-matured and offers red berries and bakery notes. Private Barrel Program offers private ownership of a 30 L whisky stave; price 7000; maturation between 2 and 5 years; 30-50 bottles; including annual tastings, naming, 4 Glencairn glasses and a black gift box; the program is currently sold out. There is also information about our process page and description of the spirit and maturation, including new make spirit with aromas of dark fruits and butterscotch and a detailed description of the levels of maturation.

Visits/Experiences

The Whiskery is Bellarine Distillery's cellar door and an 18+ venue; the booking system offers 2-hour time slots and a maximum group size of 12 people; seating is varied; dogs are welcome outside; opening hours and menu are listed; simple pizzas, cheeses and products from local suppliers are offered; there is the opportunity to taste whiskies and gins as well as bottle sales on-site and in limited editions through stockists.

Philosophy

We focus on flavor above all else and strive to create whiskies to enjoy, celebrate and share with those you love. We emphasize research, experimentation and an approach that promotes trailblazing combinations and craftsmanship.