Derwent Distillery

Overview of the distillery

Derwent Distillery is located on the banks of the Derwent River in Dromedary, Tasmania, and combines single malt whisky, gin, and liqueurs in a small, river-side distillery. Robbie and Emma Gilligan are behind the site after many years in Tasmania’s whisky and gin industry. The combination of local raw materials, copper pot stills, and the humid riverside climate makes the distillery particularly interesting for whisky lovers who want to follow the spirit from raw ingredients through to cask and glass.

History

The name Derwent goes back to one of Tasmania’s first legally licensed distilleries. As early as January 1820, reports were made about the foundation of a large brewery laid by R. W. Loane at Hobart Rivulet in South Hobart, and in December 1823 the building was in operation as Derwent Distillery. The business later obtained the second manufacturing licence in Australia, but the local industry was shut down after Lt Gov Franklin introduced legislation in 1838 that abolished the distilling industry. The modern Derwent Distillery has been set up by Robbie and Emma Gilligan on the banks of the Derwent River in Dromedary. Robbie is from Glasgow, while Emma is Tasmanian, and the couple built their own place after experiences from Lark, Overeem, Redlands Distillery and Old Kempton Distillery. Their location between Mount Dromedary and Dromedary Forest Reserve underlines how closely the distillery is tied to the landscape around the river.

Raw materials and production

Derwent Distillery works with copper pot stills and especially features a very tall copper still with an extended line arm, which has been chosen to produce a lighter and more delicate new make spirit. The distillery has two copper pot stills: one at 500 litres and a smaller one at 50 litres. The longer contact with copper should further refine the spirit, and both whisky and gin are made here using the same equipment. For the whisky, the single malt expressions are described as distilled in a Scottish style, while gin is made with Tasmanian ingredients and botanicals, with some picked directly on the distillery’s own property. The distillery also works with small batch releases and ranges from traditional to experimental expressions.

Maturation and cask types

Maturation is closely connected to the site by the Derwent River. The distillery highlights the oceanic climate, cooler winters, temperate summers, and the extra humidity from The Jerry as favourable conditions for single malt whisky. The range includes both tawny cask and botrytis cask, and in particular botrytis provides a distinctive character that is also used in the smoked Cailleach edition. The specific cask types point to a production where wine and dessert wine casks play a clear role in the spirit’s development.

Whiskies

The range revolves around three whisky expressions that show the distillery’s breadth: a smoked botrytis single malt, a tawny cask single malt, and a botrytis cask single malt. In addition, there is a separate 2025 Cailleach Winter Release. Overall, it forms a small but clearly focused whisky program, where cask selection and light smoke are allowed to set the tone, while gin and liqueurs explore the same local approach in other categories.

The style and tasting profile of the whiskies

The whisky moves between light smoke, a soft and smooth finish, and sweeter, vinous notes from botrytis and tawny casks. Cailleach shows a clear but restrained smoke that does not overpower the smooth finish. The botrytis cask pulls the profile toward fruity and vinous nuances, while the tawny casks give a richer, sweeter direction. The overall impression is a style where finesse and cask character come before heavy peat.

Visiting the distillery

Derwent Distillery welcomes guests with guided tours and tastings. The tours go behind the scenes through raw materials, microclimate, stills, and casks, and end with tastings of whisky, gin, and liqueur with a view over the river. Booking is required. The shop is open Monday to Friday 9:00–17:00 and Saturday 10:00–13:00, while Sunday is closed.

The listed opening hours are Sun: Closed; Mon-Fri: 9:00 - 17:00; Sat: 10:00 - 13:00.
See times and book a visit.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

Derwent Distillery works from a clear local and light-footed approach: Tasmanian ingredients, botanicals from their own land, solar-powered production, and restoring habitat for native wildlife. At the same time, they describe their whisky as small batch releases that range from traditional to experimental variants. It’s a distillery that wants to both root itself in the place and develop its own style.

Sustainability

Spirits with a lighter footprint.
Locally sourced botanicals.
Solar-powered production.
Rehabilitating habitat for native animals.