When it comes to Tasmanian whisky, Hobart often hogs the limelight like a prima donna at centre stage, its distilleries pouring out gold-medal-winning drops that make the world sit up and take notice. But Tasmania, my friends, is not a one-hit wonder. Venture north, past the picturesque vineyards of the Tamar Valley—renowned for their world-class Pinot Noir—and you’ll find Launceston Distillery, a rising star ready to prove that great whisky can take flight even in the most unexpected places.
Housed in a former airport hangar, Launceston Distillery is a blend of old-world charm and modern ingenuity. Its wash and spirit stills, refined to perfection by Bailly of Knapp Lewer Engineering, are the beating heart of a whisky-making operation that takes provenance as seriously as a Scotsman guarding his last dram.
With head distiller Chris Condon—a man who’s sharpened his skills at a brewery and played midwife to the birth of Nant Distillery—you know this isn’t just whisky; it’s liquid poetry.
Tawny Cask: The Raisin D’Être
My introduction to Launceston Distillery was through its Tawny Cask expression, a dram that greeted me like an old friend bearing gifts of sugary warmth and raisin-soaked nostalgia. The nose opens with delicate notes of dried fruits, as if someone bottled the essence of a fruitcake grandma made with love and just a touch of mischief.
On the palate, it unfolds like a novel you can’t put down—sweet cereal and spicy intrigue take centre stage, with cinnamon, anise, and liquorice playing their parts beautifully. The finish brings it full circle, with raisin and earthy oak tying up the story in a bow. If this whisky were a song, it would be Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah—complex, soulful, and utterly timeless.
Bourbon Cask: A Sweet Symphony
Next on the tasting tour was the Bourbon Cask, a whisky that hits you with a bouquet of fruity sultanas and vanilla so smooth you’d think it was whispering sweet nothings. On the palate, it’s a luscious, viscous experience—a caramel river flowing through a landscape of malt and warming spices.
The finish? Medium in length but rich in impact, leaving dried fruits and a gentle whisper of cinnamon to linger like the memory of a perfect autumn evening. Imagine sipping this while Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide plays softly in the background—it’s that kind of heartwarming.
Peated Expression: Smoke Signals from Heaven
Now, let’s talk about the Peated Expression, the whisky equivalent of a rock anthem. With peated barley imported from Scotland and then distilled and matured in Launceston’s hangar-turned-holy-ground, this expression doesn’t just walk onto the stage—it storms in with a fog machine and a guitar riff.
The nose introduces itself with honeyed fruits and a flirtatious wisp of peat smoke, like the promise of a bonfire on a crisp winter night. On the palate, it’s a smoky ballet, where the peat pirouettes with malty barley, marzipan, and spice, leaving you wondering how something so bold can also be so graceful.
The finish stretches out like a long goodbye, full of sweet honey, vanilla, and earthy peat that wraps around you like a woollen scarf. Let it breathe, and it unveils its full smoky symphony—Chris Condon’s pièce de résistance.
Taking Whisky to New Heights
Launceston Distillery may be one of the newer kids on the Tasmanian block, but it’s certainly playing with the confidence of a seasoned performer. Each expression feels like a well-composed chapter in a story that’s just beginning to unfold.
So, the next time you think Tasmanian whisky starts and ends in Hobart, take a detour north. Visit the hangar where alchemy meets artistry, where oak barrels hold secrets as sweet as a whispered promise, and where whisky dreams take flight.
---
Words by AW.
Photos courtesy of Launceston Distillery.