36 Short Spirits

About the distillery

36 Short Spirits is an Australian family distillery in Virginia, South Australia, where whisky, rakia, gin, vodka, and liqueurs are made under the same roof. The place is especially interesting for whisky lovers because it combines a single malt whisky created in honor of the family’s father with a clear local grounding in raw materials and production.

History

36 Short was started by two brothers to honor their father, Pando. He taught them how to distill and asked them before his death to share his rakia recipe with the world. In 2014, the company became the first in Australia to license and sell rakia, and since then the range has grown with its own versions of, among other things, blood orange gin and limoncello. The name 36 Short comes from Pando’s jacket size and has become a family joke that fit the brand. Today, the distillery is also home to the copper pot still that bears his name, and which forms the heart of the production.

Raw materials and production

The production is built around in-house distillation at the distillery in Virginia, South Australia. The company itself describes that all products are made by their own people, and that honest ingredients are used from the family’s farm or local Australian suppliers. In the supplied text, it is especially the 1,200-liter copper pot still, Pando, that comes forward as a concrete production method; it is handmade locally in Griffith, NSW, and stands as the actual machine room in the distillation. No artificial colors or preservatives are used. For the whisky, there is documentation for a single malt, and the product description shows that the house works with a style that can provide both a clearly malty character and a distinctly wood-driven profile.

Maturation and cask types

The most obvious maturation detail is the use of American Oak for The Radlith, which is listed as a 5-year-old single malt. It provides a clear picture of a focus on American oak in the whisky’s development, but the supplied text does not go into detail about earlier fill, finishing, or specific storage conditions. For the whisky lover, it is still an important marker because it connects age, oak type, and flavor profile together in a relatively simple and transparent framework.

Whiskies

The whisky range in the supplied text is small and very focused. The Radlith is the most fully developed release: a 5-year-old single malt at 40% and 700 ml, created by Alastair Clarkson in honor of his father Tom. In addition, there is another single malt, 36 Short Australian Single Malt Whisky at 45% and 500 ml, as well as Daicos 35 Single Malt Whisky By 36 Short, which appears as sold out. This gives a picture of a distillery that works with individual whisky releases rather than a large core range, where each release has its own story and identity.

Whisky style and flavor profile

Across the documented whiskies, a profile emerges with spiced oak, heather honey, dark chocolate, vanilla, and a long, warm finish. This points to a whisky where wood, sweetness, and richness are clear building blocks. The mentioned 36 Short Australian Single Malt Whisky is also described as very soft and full of flavor, supporting the impression of a rounded and welcoming style rather than a harsh or smoky profile.

Visit the distillery

The distillery is located in Virginia, South Australia, and the public can purchase directly via the affiliated shop. There is clearly talk of an active destination with physical production and a shop, but the supplied text provides no information about tours, tastings, booking, or fixed opening hours. For visitors, it is therefore mainly the shop and the opportunity to buy the products that are clearly described.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

36 Short emphasizes the family story around Pando and the idea of carrying his rakia recipe forward. The products are made in-house, and ingredients from the family’s own farm or local Australian raw materials are used. At the same time, a deliberate choice to avoid artificial colors and preservatives is highlighted, which gives the products a simple and transparent presentation.