Our Story
the owners
Set up by us, Robbie and Emma Gilligan, on the banks of the Derwent River (timtumili minanya) in Dromedary Tasmania. Robbie hails from Glasgow, Scotland and Emma is a home grown Tasmanian.
After both working in the Tasmanian distilling industry distilling, creating, selling and managing at Lark, Overeem, Redlands Distillery and Old Kempton Distillery, we decided we wanted to branch out, explore our own distilling style and join our Tasmanian family of distillers who have become such wonderful friends and mentors.
History
The Derwent Distillery name comes from one of the first legalised distilleries in Tasmania, originally set up on the banks of the Hobart Rivulet in Gore St, South Hobart in the early 1820’s.
On January 22, 1820, the Hobart Town Gazette reported, ‘The foundations of an extensive brewery were laid in the presence of a number of persons by R. W. Loane’. In December of 1823 the building was operating as the ‘Derwent Distillery’.
The distillery was successful and was granted the second manufacturing licence in Australia.
The closure of the distillery resulted from a change in colonial government policy. With Lt Gov Franklin introducing legislation to abolish the local distilling industry in 1838.
LOCATION
Our distillery is built on the banks of the River Derwent (timtumili minanya), in the small rural town of Dromedary. Dromedary is half an hour from Hobart and only a short drive from the heritage town of New Norfolk.
It is nestled between Mount Dromedary and the Dromedary Forest Reserve. Mount Dromedary received its name from Captain John Hayes in 1794. As Captain Hayes sailed up the Derwent River, the ridge of the mountain reminded him of the back of a dromedary camel.
CLIMATE
Our climate is oceanic, with cooler winters and temperate summers. The extra humidity caused by The Jerry, unique riverside weather conditions and Tasmania's pristine air create the perfect location for single malt whisky maturation
Stills
Our distillery is home to two copper pot stills. One 500L capacity still and another smaller 50L capacity still. We specially selected a very unique tall copper pot design to create light and delicate new make spirit. The line arm has been extended to a total length of 2.4m increasing copper contact and further refining the final spirit.
We acknowledge the Palawa people of Lutruwita who are the traditional custodians of the land in which the Derwent Distillery is located. We pay our deep respects to Elders past, present and emerging.