Our STory
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.
After spending many years searching for a suitable site, as luck would have it, shortly after the birth of our son on a Sunday drive we stumbled across the perfect place. It was then that we finally began our own dream of building the Derwent Distillery.
The Name
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’.
Unfortunately the distillery was never given the time to shine and in 1838 their doors shut. The closure of the distillery resulted from a change in colonial government policy. Concern over lost revenue caused by local distilling reducing imported spirits, resulted in Lt Gov Franklin introducing legislation to abolish the local industry in favour of brewing.
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
During the cooler months our distillery is covered in a thick sea fog each morning, this is known locally as The Bridgewater Jerry. The Jerry stretches along the River Derwent. The Jerry forms at night during the cooler months when cold air comes down from the surrounding hills and collects in the Derwent Valley.
Our climate is oceanic, with cooler, rainy winters and temperate summers. These unique weather conditions 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.
“And they hae taen his very heart's blood,
And drank it round and round;
And still the more and more they drank,
Their joy did more abound”
— Rabbi Burns, John Barleycorn