5Nines Distilling

About the distillery

5Nines Distilling is located in the Adelaide Hills near Uraidla and operates as a small batch distillery making handcrafted single malt whisky, gin, and other premium spirits. The name 5Nines refers to 99.999% perfection, and the most special experience is a private cask program, where you can buy a selected cask and have it filled with malt spirit, which then matures into your own whisky.

History

Two founders and an idea of perfection

The distillery was created by David Pearse and Steven Griguol, who share an ambition to create the perfect spirit. 5Nines is built around the idea of 99.999% perfection, and the company describes itself as a small batch distillery in the scenic Adelaide Hills. The story therefore centers on a very personal project, where handcrafted spirit, small batches, and a clear focus on quality are at the heart of it from the very beginning. An important part of the narrative is also the 5Nines Whisky Barrel Experience, where customers can buy a selected cask, have it filled with handcrafted malt spirit, and let it mature in the distillery’s bond store for several years.

Raw materials and production

Production focuses on handcrafted single malt whisky in small batches. Malt is used as the raw material, and the distillery places emphasis on a handcrafted expression both in the spirit and in the distillery’s own equipment. The more detailed steps of mashing, fermentation, and distillation are not described in the available text, but it is clear that the company works with a deliberately small scale and with a strong connection between craft and individuality. The most special production approach is private casks: a selected cask is purchased by the customer, filled with malt spirit, and then matured for the customer in the distillery’s bond store. This makes maturation part of the experience itself—not just the final result.

Maturation and cask types

The whisky matures in the distillery’s bond store, and the private cask program is a clear part of the house. Here, a selected cask can be filled with malt spirit and left for several years before it becomes the customer’s own whisky. The range also shows a variety of cask-influenced expressions, including cask strength versions with Altar Wine and PX Sherry, as well as single casks from tawny, chardonnay, and liqueur Frontignac casks. The text doesn’t say more about climatic conditions or specific maturation strategies, but it makes it clear that cask selection and multi-year maturation are central to the house style.

Whiskies

The range in the shop focuses on single malt whisky, with both fixed expressions and more specific cask expressions. On the more accessible side are Lightly Peated and Unpeated - Release VR001, which shows the spectrum between lightly smoked and un-smoked whisky. In addition, there is Special Release - Cola Finish, the Cask Strength versions with Altar Wine and PX Sherry, as well as Hills Cask. A series of Select Single Cask releases with numbering shows that the distillery also works with individual casks and clearly identifiable cask expressions. The overall picture is a range where malt, casks, and small batches are key elements.

General tasting profile

Visit the distillery

The public can get close to the distillery through the 5Nines Whisky Barrel Experience. Here you can buy a selected cask and have it filled with handcrafted malt spirit, which is then matured in the distillery’s bond store for several years. The contact details are provided with a post box in Uraidla, phone, and email.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

5Nines works from a very clear idea of perfection, and the name itself is part of the story: 99.999% perfection. This philosophy is linked to small batches, handcrafted spirit, and an ambition to make the production as precise as possible. At the same time, there is a personal dimension to the private cask program, where the customer gets the opportunity to buy a cask and follow their own whisky through several years of maturation.