Whipper Snapper Distillery

About the distillery (Kort om destilleriet)

Whipper Snapper Distillery is located in East Perth, Western Australia, and is an urban whisky distillery focused on Australian whiskey made from grain to glass. The distillery was established in 2014 and builds its identity on Western Australian grain, on-site production, and a visitor experience with tours, tastings, a café, and a cellar door. It is particularly interesting for whisky lovers because the place both tells a local story and works with a range that spans corn whiskey to rye, wheat, and single malt.

History

Whipper Snapper was founded in 2014 by Jimmy and Al with a simple yet ambitious idea: to redefine Australian whiskey. From the start, the goal was to bring together tradition and innovation and create a whiskey that felt distinctly its own, but still respectful of the craft. The distillery describes the journey itself as driven by friendship, passion, and a desire to build something that could be called a whiskey for people.

Over time, Whipper Snapper has grown into Perth’s original urban whisky distillery with more than a decade of operation, national distribution, over 600 maturing casks, and a portfolio that has collected over 100 awards. Today, the next chapter is clearly defined: greater national reach, export to new markets, and an East Perth site that will function both as a distillery and a destination.

Ingredients and production

Whipper Snapper distills in East Perth, and all production is set up on-site, so visitors can follow the journey from grain to finished whiskey. The overarching ingredient story is Western Australian grain, and the range shows that the house works with multiple grain expressions, including corn, rye, wheat, and single malt. The distillery highlights a step-by-step process that guests can get close to through guided tours, where the team talks about the distillation and the choices behind the different expressions.

There is also a clear local dimension to the production: Whipper Snapper positions itself as an urban producer in the middle of Perth and links whiskey-making to the café, cellar door, and experiences at the same address. This creates a picture of a distillery where production isn’t hidden away, but is part of the visit itself and the way the brand meets its audience.

Maturation and cask types

The maturation work is documented through storage in a warehouse with more than 600 casks, and the distillery also works with smaller experiments. A specific example is the 5-liter handmade American oak barrels with medium char, which are made from virgin oak and are intended for faster maturation at home. The small casks are designed as a way to accelerate the aging, so the spirit can develop in a few weeks rather than months and years. This shows an interest in both traditional cask maturation and more experimental, user-driven solutions.

Whiskies

The current range is centered around two series: Upshot and Wheatbelt. The Upshot series includes, among other things, a cask strength edition, as well as Upshot and Upshot Bandit, while the Wheatbelt series includes Rye, Wheat, and Single Malt. Overall, this paints a picture of a distillery that works broadly with Australian grain expressions and keeps the portfolio focused around a few named series rather than a large number of individual releases. The range spans from stronger bottlings to more classic standard expressions, supporting the image of a modern, experimental whisky distillery with local roots.

General tasting profile

Visit the distillery

Whipper Snapper can be visited in East Perth as an active distillery with guided tours, masterclasses, private whiskey experiences, a café, and a cellar door. Tastings of the range are available, and the tour can be booked online. The café and cellar door are open seven days a week, and the venue is only a short train ride from the city and a short walk from Claisebrook Station. This makes the visit easily accessible for both curious guests and more experienced whisky lovers who want to see the production and taste the whisky on-site.

The stated opening hours are: the café and cellar door are open seven days a week. Tours can be booked online.
See times and book a visit.

Philosophy and craft

Whipper Snapper works from a clear idea that whiskey is for people—not just collectors. The brand’s values revolve around craft, character, and curiosity, and this is directly connected to a mission to showcase Western Australian grain and build an Australian whiskey brand with an international format. Tradition and innovation stand side by side, but always with local roots at the center.

Awards and recognition

• World’s Best Corn Whiskey (2023, Winner)