Fossey's
About the distillery
Fossey's is a boutique gin and whisky distillery in Mildura in the northern part of Victoria. It’s set up in The Setts and features Mildura’s first and only gin garden, as well as a gin and whisky bar. The venue combines family history, local ingredients, and small-batch distilling—and it’s precisely that mix that makes it one of the more distinctive places to visit for whisky lovers in the region.
History
The name Fossey entered the family in the early 1900s, when it was given as a middle name to the firstborn son, John Fossey, better known as Foss. The family talks about a strong, independent clan, where Foss grew up in Koorlong while his grandmother in Ludlow ran a pub and raised six children on her own. Later, the family came to Australia, and Foss’ mother, Elsie Vera, raised four children in Koorlong before roads and waterways were properly established. Foss was described as an original entrepreneur with the courage to take on big projects; among other things, he helped create Timmis Speedway, which is still associated with Mildura. Today, the family continues to work with the same ideas of pioneer spirit, and the distillery has been built up as a modern extension of that story.
Ingredients and production
Fossey's works with local producers and Australian botanicals, placing emphasis on high quality in the ingredients that become their gin and whisky. The distillery’s process is shown to guests, and at the heart of the work is the still Stanley, described as a busy but social figure in the still room. The products are made by hand, and both bottling and labeling take place at the distillery, where each bottle is handled and packaged on site. It’s a small, personal production, where the team demonstrates the process to visitors and lets them follow the work from start to finish.
Whiskies
The whisky range is small and clearly focused. The core consists of a Single Malt Single Barrel Whisky and a Peated Single Malt Single Barrel Whisky, while Butterscotch Whisky Liqueur provides a sweeter alternative within the same product family. The range is sold directly via the distillery’s own shop, and it suits a house that also builds its reputation on gin, in a very local, handmade style.
| Whisky | Type / series | Cask and style | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Malt Single Barrel Whisky | Current; Core range; Sold in the web shop | ||
| Peated Single Malt Single Barrel Whisky | peated/smoky | Current; Core range; Sold in the web shop | |
| Butterscotch Whisky Liqueur | Whisky liqueur | Current; Sold in the web shop |
Visit the distillery
Fossey's can be visited in Mildura, where guests can watch the distilling, meet the team, and experience the still room up close. The venue has both a gin garden, a gin and whisky bar, and a shop, and tastings are offered as part of the experience. The provided text does not specify fixed opening hours or booking terms, so the most important thing is that the visit is set up for the public and centered on the production itself and the tastings.
Philosophy and craft
Fossey's is built on family history, big ideas, and a desire to do things their own way. They highlight local roots, Australian botanicals, and high-quality products without compromise. At the same time, it’s clear that handwork matters a lot: the products are bottled, labeled, and packaged at the distillery, and the process is part of the experience—not just work done behind the scenes.