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Tasmania is well known for its whisky. Indeed, the liquid gold from here has been named the world’s finest. There’s one, though, that’s not like the rest. Some would say it’s a square peg on a shelf of shiny round bottles. But that’s the Fannys Bay way.
Founders Mathew and Julie Cooper are no ordinary distillers. What business does a diesel mechanic and a career hairdresser have making whisky? Deciding it was time for a career overhaul they made the seachange to the northern Tasmanian seaside and set to work. After all, how hard could it be to make a good whisky? At first, whisky making to Mathew was about as familiar as the nearby coastline was to the captain of Fanny, a small sailing ship that blew onto rocks in 1844. A secluded cove nearby was named after the doomed vessel and is a fitting namesake for a distillery that has weathered uncharted waters. No one had ever set up a distillery on Tasmania’s wind-swept northern coast. That didn’t deter the Coopers. A new still was unaffordable but that didn’t stop them either. Mathew made do with some space in his man cave until he could build his own. Distilling eventually commenced, with the first barrels put down in 2014. That square peg on a shelf of round bottles, that’s about Fannys Bay Distillery not quite fitting in. Like a city seachanger arriving in a new Tassie town or a craft beer lover turning their taste to whisky, Fannys Bay Distillery embraced the challenge. You too will be embraced with open arms at Fannys Bay – but round these parts, don’t expect a high-end tour. There’s no big fancy distillery or automation buttons. There’s one man driving a still by hand, with meticulous dedication to honest distilling. He tweaks temperatures based on the weather, carefully tending each barrel, from French oak to ex-bourbon. His methods follow the time-honoured traditional Scottish way. Then comes the Tasmanian touch: the pristine rainwater infused with nature’s perfect dose of sea spray. Years on, the whisky is ready for chief designer Julie to hand write each label. She’s responsible for the distinctive French-style bottle in all its square glory. Its fine cork hails from Portugal. Good things take time. The result is a smooth, mature, full palate with a refreshing hint of northern coastal waters to be savoured slowly. Little wonder this scarce drop has found its way into VIP casino lounges and world-class resorts. Few might have heard about Fannys Bay Distillery, but those in the know are swept away by its rare flavour profile and hand-crafted, seaside tale. The saliferous undertones may shift with the seasons – no bottle is the same as the next – but isn’t that how a square peg forever is? Fannys Bay will never fit in a round bottle. Call Irene to book a taste & talk cellar door tour and let Mathew share with you his passion for making a well-rounded dram. 15 Seascape Drive, Tam O’Shanter, Lulworth fannysbaydistillery.com.au 0431 512 006 [email protected] |