History

St Agnes Distillery is an age-old family business in Renmark, South Australia, run by the Angove family across five generations. Since 1925 there has been craftsmanship and patience in the production of Australian spirits, and only six Master Distillers have carried the art through the years. The original distillery established itself as one of Australia’s oldest continuously operating artisan distilleries, where the copper pot stills from around 1910 and the barrel hall form the foundation of the spirit’s character. Over the years, St Agnes has become known for award-winning brandy and later for whisky and gin. In Tea Tree Gully's history, Angove-style began, and in Renmark bottling and aging became central to the story. Since 2014, Blind Tiger Organic Gin has marked the gin category, and in 2016 the first Camborne Single Malt Whisky was distilled, which has since evolved into an important part of the portfolio. In 2025, St Agnes celebrates 100 years of distillation with iconic releases such as XXO 50 Year Old Exceptional Reserve and Centenary Reserve 30 Year Old, along with other specially selected projects.

Production / Manufacturing

St Agnes Distillery focuses on patience and time as the pillars of production. Production takes place in the historic copper pot stills and in the Barrel Halls, where the spirit’s character develops over the years. The copper stills built around 1910 and 1911 have been used to create eau de vie and to age spirits for decades. The slow and controlled aging in tawny, sherry, brandy and other oak casks provides complexity and depth. Camborne Single Malt Whisky is made from Australian barley and undergoes double distillation in the original copper pot stills. After fermentation and distillation, the whiskey is aged in secondary casks to achieve its distinctive South Australian style—rich, full and long in the finish. Emphasis is placed on developing an Australian expression with time and craftsmanship as key concepts. Blind Tiger Gin is produced in small batches and uses certified organic botanicals; the Navy Strength version is particularly strong and focuses on the juniper and citrus notes, while Mandarin Gin adds a fruity dimension. This approach combines science and craft to create distinctive gins.

Products / Whisky Series

Camborne Single Malt Whisky

Camborne Single Malt Whisky is the Australian whisky from St Agnes Distillery, made from Australian super premium barley and double-distilled in the historic copper pot stills. The whiskey is aged in different cask types, and several cask-aged variants have been developed: - Camborne Apera Cask Aged - Camborne Bourbon Cask Aged - Camborne Tawny Cask Aged - Camborne Shiraz Cask Aged - Camborne Sherry Cask Aged - Camborne Brandy Cask Aged These casks provide complex aromas and a long finish – part of the classic St Agnes philosophy: time and a strong emphasis on oak reserves and second-fill casks.

St Agnes Brandy (selected vintages and collections)

The distillery has been known for brandy since 1925, and the portfolio includes high-class XO- and XXO- collections, including: - St Agnes XXO Exceptional Reserve 50 Year Old - St Agnes XO Grand Reserve 40 Year Old - St Agnes XO Centenary Reserve 30 Year Old - St Agnes Ultimate XO Collection - St Agnes XO Imperial 20 Year Old - St Agnes XO 15 Year Old - St Agnes VSOP and VS (Very Superior) These products testify to three pillars: a long aging history, the use of Tawny/Sherry/Brandy-fade, and a craft-based approach that yields distinctive Australian eau de vie.

Blind Tiger Organic Gin (and related products)

St Agnes produces Blind Tiger Organic Gin in various variants, including Mandarin Gin and Navy Strength Gin, focusing on organic botanicals and carefully composed notes – part of the distillery’s broad spirits portfolio beyond whisky and brandy.

Visits / Experiences

Renmark Distillery is open daily for tastings and sales: Monday–Friday 10:00–17:00 and Saturday, Sunday and holidays 11:00–16:00. Guided tours and experiences are offered, such as a 45-minute tour, and tours can be booked through the distillery (typically around $20 per person). In addition, flights and tastings are offered in Cellars Sales. St Agnes Distillery invites visitors to experience the history behind South Australia’s oldest continuously operating craft distillery and to learn more about how brandy and whisky are made through time and oak aging.

Philosophy

The philosophy at St Agnes Distillery is clear: time and craft give character. In a world that desires speed and uniformity, authentic character, origin and uniqueness are celebrated. The aim is to create world-class Australian spirits with a distinct Australian expression through slow distillation, careful aging, and a close relationship between family, history, and the land.