Distillery profile

Mt. Uncle Distillery

Explore the distillery's history, craft, production, and the distinctive character of its whiskies.

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Mt Uncle Distillery

About the distillery

Mt Uncle Distillery is located in Walkamin on the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland, and is a working Australian distillery with whisky, gin, rum, and agave spirit in its portfolio. The site is shaped by volcanic soil, a tropical climate, and pure spring water—and it is exactly these conditions that are actively used to build flavour from raw ingredient to bottling.

History

Mt Uncle Distillery was founded in 2001 on the Atherton Tablelands, where volcanic soil, the tropical climate, and clean spring water provided a distinct regional starting point. Behind the distillery is Mark Watkins, who is both founder and head distiller. His approach is direct: flavour should be built early, disciplinary decisions must be made at the still, and time should be allowed to do its job. The same way of thinking also led to bringing Blue Weber agave to Australia, and that experience became the foundation for an entirely new category in the house. Today, the legacy lives on in a distillery that is process-driven and looks at tradition through an Australian lens.

Ingredients and production

Production is based on local and regional ingredients. Mt Uncle works with North Queensland sugarcane, native botanicals, estate-grown agave, and Queensland barley, and several of the products are described as fermented on site. Distillation takes place in a 1500L Arnold Holstein copper pot still, where each cut is deliberate, and where the copper still pot is used for both whisky, rum, and agave spirit. For agave spirit, the blue agave is slow roasted in a volcanic rock pit, before it is copper pot distilled. One of the gins also uses native botanicals, which are gently smoked before distillation, while Platinum Cane Spirit is slowly filtered through volcanic rock to achieve its clear, clean profile.

Maturation and cask types

Maturation is clearly shaped by the tropical climate on the Atherton Tablelands, where heat and humidity make time an important—yet also more demanding—factor. The whisky is matured in French oak barriques that previously held red wine, and it is finished in American oak. Agave releases are seen both in American oak barrels and as rested expressions, while the rums range from ex-red wine hogsheads to American oak hogsheads and longer tropical maturation in selected oak barrels. Mt Uncle works openly with cask selection, fill strength, and warehouse conditions to control the intensity of this warm maturation.

Whiskies

The whisky is collected under Watkins Whisky Co. and consists here of a 7 Year Single Malt Whisky, which is the clear signature expression in the range. In addition, the house also covers Botanic Australis, with multiple gin expressions; FNQ Rum Co., with cane spirit and matured rum; and Agave Australis, with silver, rested, aged, and a former dark agave spirit. The portfolio is broad, but the through-line is clear: products that are structured, expressive, and clearly rooted in North Queensland.

Whisky Type / series Alcohol Age Cask and style Flavour profile Status
Watkins Whisky Co. Single Malt Australian Single Malt Whisky 43 % 7 years French oak barriques; finish: finished in American oak An Australian single malt from Mt Uncle Distillery, made using locally grown Queensland barley and clean spring water from the Atherton Tablelands. It is matured in French ex-red wine barriques for seven years and finished in American eg.; Nose: Sweet fruit, butterscotch, banoffee pie, honey and warm spice.; Taste: Honey, soft spice, vanilla, dried fruit, toasted oak, subtle rye character and natural sweetness.; Finish: Long, refined, warming, and lightly spiced with lingering oak and sweetness. Current; Core range; Out of stock

The style and flavour profile of the whiskies

Across the releases, honey, vanilla, and spice show up again in whisky, agave, and rum. The fruit notes range from dried fruit, sweet fruit, and banana to berry and plum, while oak and toffee, caramel, and caramel fudge create warmth and body in the matured expressions. In the gin range, juniper, citrus, native botanical lift, and a few floral hints appear, and the smoked and herbal-leaning expressions give the house a special breadth.

Visit the distillery

Mt Uncle Distillery can be visited in Walkamin, and the Distillery Door functions as a working distillery, where guests can taste the range and get close to the production. There is a shop on site, and opening hours are daily from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Events are also offered on the grounds, so the visit can be combined with a stop in the Atherton Tablelands area.

The stated opening hours are Open 7 days, Monday to Sunday 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

Mt Uncle works from process, precision, and regional identity. Emphasis is placed on understanding tradition, respecting it, and carrying it forward with an Australian starting point. Flavour is built early, distillation is managed with discipline, and maturation is handled actively, so that the region’s raw ingredients are allowed to set the direction.

Prices and awards

  • World's Best Sugarcane Spirit (2024, Won)

  • World's Best Pot Still Rum (Won)

  • IWSC Gold 98 points (2024, Gold 98 points, Iridium X Agave Cask)

  • Best Australian Navy Strength Gin (2024, Won, Botanic Australis Navy Strength Gin)