FLEURIEU DISTILLERY
Live A Life Less Ordinary
The Fleurieu Peninsula proudly weathers the wild southern ocean. In the lee of the mount lofty ranges, the fleurieu coast extends from the sandy surf beaches of coorong to the windswept rugged clifftops of the cape. Situated on the waters edge in the river port of goolwa is our distillery. It is here the whisky develops expressive maple and vanilla oak overtones mixed with spicy sea-air aromas. These elegantly combine to create a smooth bodied character that comes only from maturation on the southern coast.
Come visit us….Travel the winding roads of the Fleurieu.
G.R, Andrews Head Distiller
Our Whisky Collection
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A good run overnight. Now for the cleanup!
Boortmalt - because there’s a little bit of Swedish Chef in all distillers.
Boort Boort Boort Boort!
Love that you feel you are exactly where you belong professionally @ajoelessordinary To have one of our whiskies as a celebratory dram to this is really special 🥰
Posted @withregram • @ajoelessordinary Homecoming
Today, I had the honour of presenting the Emergency Medicine Grand Round presentation at my new hospital. During this presentation, I told several stories about my life thus far as a toxicologist. To hear from respected colleagues that it was the best presentation I had ever given, was a true honour. After a long search of the soul, I felt that I was finally home.
So it seemed the right time to talk about one of my favorite whiskies to date. Cartoon Lurve, is the combination of peated malt, tawny and apera casks from Fleurieu Distillery. Having won a gold medal at the 2020 American Distilling Institute Awards, it is a prime example of how fortified wine and peat can work together in perfect harmony.
Served in a Denver and Liely Gin Glass, it worked really nicely to bring out some lovely aromas.
Colour: Liquid honey, Apple Box, in fact
Nose: Sweet, earthy peat with a hint of peat comprising of burnt leaves, iodine, salt and coffee greet you on first pass. On your return, there’s a lovely mix of caramel saltwater taffy, mixed berry jam and sea spray are allowed to step to the front by the peat. It’s at this point, your palate beckons for a taste
Palate: At 52%, the entry is rich and viscous, no burn whatsoever, it envelops your whole mouth as you ride the waves of sweet toffee, salt, plum, plum jam and that wonderful complex peat note. It’s so well-integrated, I’ve enjoyed every drop thus far
Finish: As for all the Fleurieus I’ve had, long, warming and lingers to a close of that plum note with a twang of briny peat
Frontrunner for my whisky of 2020- check it out- www.fleurieudistillery.com.au
Till next time! -JRo 🥃❤️ #2020 #bestdecadeever #whisky #whiskey #bourbon #rye #scotch #whiskylover #fleurieu #thinklocaldrinklocal #australiasfirstbourbonsteward
Barrels of Gratitude #13
As this is our 13th and final post on Barrels of Gratitude, it seems fitting to introduce and end with Ben McHugh.
It is like coming full circle... Ben has been there before we opened officially to the public and will very likely still be here when we have collapsed with exhaustion. That's how reliable he is!
In all likelihood you will never meet Ben McHugh. He is though, one of the key people in the running list of any brew day. We love you Ben!
While dedicated hospitality workers in whisky bars are clocking off in the darkest coldest part of mornings, Ben is prepping for the day's first milking run. He's bringing in cows into the milking yard and looking at the day ahead and working collaboratively in managing other farming interests with family. For over 15 years without fail, Ben has delivered empty grain bins to us as a brewery and distillery. At the end of brew days he then collects grain filled bins and has carted thousands of tons of barley to feed some very happy cows.
Thank you Ben and the McHugh family for on the ground support in a very real way. Your support in every way has enabled us to aim high.
#australiancraftspirits #australiancraftdistillers #australianwhisky #barrelsofgratitude #gratitude #fleurieudistillery #goolwawhiskylove
What is whisky without those who bring us together and challenge us.
Craig Daniels
Craig recognises ‘things’ before their time and has been at the forefront of malt whisky appreciation in Australia.
As a craft brewery metamorphosising into a fledgling single malt whisky distillery, who else would you turn to for advice and quality control? As a multiple Australian Malt Whisky Tasting Championship winner, who better to help work your way through your first releases?
It was Craig, who spotted that our “River’s End” bottling was going to create ripples... and it did... all the way to Gold Medal, Best of Category, and trophy for Champion International Whisky at the 2018 American Distilling Institute Awards.
Craig Daniels, this barrel is named after you to recognise all you have done in encouraging us as distillers.
Craig's passion for whisky and developing conversation around it has led to a thriving community within Adelaide and across the nation. His history and influence on the whisky scene in Australia is far too long to be listed here, but in this barrel we recognise his contribution to our success as a regional South Australian distillery. Sliante
Nicholas Yui
By our estimation Nick has a photographic record of pretty much our entire production process. And there’s not a lot of people you would allow to do that... Nick is quiet, reflective, observant, and specific... and challenging. A visit from Nicholas is a time to stop and listen.
For us, Nick has a ‘front-up’ palate, nosing an array of subtleties, where Gareth definitely has a ‘back-driven’ palate, taste, mouthfeel, retro-nasal. The conversation volleys between them on what could be found in a variety of drams was a game, set and match that a whisky Wimbledon would be proud of! A visit from Nick for us is a sheer delight.
Nick would also bring us malts from all over the world for us to assess and compare. A visit from Nick was a lesson, nay, dare we say a masterclass. It lead to reflection on incremental change to improve in a measured way.
Nicholas, while your work takes you far away, for you our doors are always open.
#barrelsofgratitude #gratitude #australiancraftspirits #whisky
All good things eventually come to an end… In this final week of the ‘Barrels of Gratitude’ series, the last few 200L barrels we have filled will be named.
All of us have exceptional people who touch our lives personally or professionally, who roll up their sleeves to support, open doors and challenge ideas. It has given us enormous joy to be able to express our gratitude and share stories how these amazing individuals have made a personal impact on our whisky journey in so many ways.
The fact these stories have resonated with so many, is also evidence of how these generous spirits and characters have affected others in our industry. Thank you for being part of this and celebrating these wonderful people with us – for it’s not happiness that brings gratitude but gratitude that brings happiness.
#barrelsofgratitude #gratitude #australiancraftspirits #australiancraftdistillers #australianwhisky #fleurieudistillery #goolwa #whisky
In our ‘Barrels of Gratitude’ series it has been our honour to highlight people who have made an impact on our business and also on our personal whisky journey. Today we are recognising someone who has been pivotal in the Sydney whisky scene not just for us but for many Australian whisky distillers.
The wonderful thing about unexpected invitations is they open doors you hadn’t anticipated. An invitation to go to Sydney was one of those!
Scott Fitzsimons
While initial whisky links had been made in Melbourne and Adelaide, Fleurieu whisky was still an unknown in New South Wales. Scott was our initial contact and connector in Sydney. His genuine passion to connect Sydneysiders with local product and the distillers behind the brand changed all that for us.
Within the Australian whisky scene, the Oak Barrel Whisky Fair is a key event. When the invitation came through to showcase our whisky not only at the Fair but also at the Distiller’s Show Case Dinner in Sydney, we felt honoured to be able to participate. Whether you have met him personally at the Oak Barrel or online, Scott’s whisky knowledge and personal connection to distillers is based on a strong ethic of being able to supply great whisky to the people of Sydney. Having someone championing Australian spirits in this sort of way is powerful for any small producer.
On the phone, or at the bar sharing a pinot after the whisky show, Scott, your pearls of wisdom on the industry are insightful and thought provoking. Thank you for your wry sense of humor and laconic perspective on the ever-changing landscape that is all things whisky. We love the fresh perspective we gain from our ongoing conversations with you! Looking forward to sharing a dram from this barrel in the years to come. Cheers to you @fitzsimons.scott 🥃😊 #theoakbarrel #barrelsofgratitude #gratitude #australiancraftspirits #australiancraftdistillers #australianwhisky #fleurieudistillery #goolwa #whisky
It’s out there now. In the wild. Secured yours yet? 😁
Posted @withregram • @ajoelessordinary A voice in the wilderness
After what seems like an eternity (although our concept of time has been challenged and redefined in the last few weeks), it’s time for another review. This one’s a special one indeed.
Made by the wonderful Andrews Family at Fleurieu Distillery, I was so grateful to be send a bottle of their Gold Medal bottling of Signal to Noise. This won a Gold Medal in the Craft Spirit category at the American Distilling Institute Awards.
I decided to take Angela and Gareth’s tasting notes to heart and enjoy the drama on a few evenings by the fire before putting my thoughts down on paper. Time slows when you have a great whisky in hand in front of the fire.
Colour: Golden honey with reddish tinges, a nod to its development in an Apera cask
Nose: Classic Fleurieu coastal sea spray with vanilla, creme caramel, a touch of nougat and some red hots on the tail. No ethanol prickle, really well balanced at 51%. You can inhale for 30 seconds without restraint
Palate: Full, rich, mouth-coating vanilla, caramel, toffee, maple, cherry, and all spice. As the initial notes fade, there’s a beautiful sweet malty note that is just delicious- for a little while, I am taken back to eating Horlick’s malted milk from the tin when Mum and Dad weren’t looking...
Finish: Long, lingering, luscious... Dry Glass- phenomenal... An incredible Australian Whisky Winter’s Dram- check it out- www.fleurieudistillery.com.au
Till next time! -JRo 🥃❤️ #2020 #bestdecadeever #whisky #whiskey #bourbon #rye #scotch #whiskylover #fleurieu #thinklocaldrinklocal #australiasfirstbourbonsteward
Barrels of Gratitude #10
The Barrels of Gratitude Series recognises those who have made an impact on our whisky journey. Joining the incredible individuals higlighted so far, Graham Wright and Jose Dymenstein are two amazing characters who have provided both grounding and philosophic direction in what we are trying to achieve.
El Tote (Jose Dymenstein)
As an importer of quality spirits who has worked extensively to create and curate an exciting collection of spirits available in Melbourne, Jose has a been wealth of knowledge... Jose, we feel privileged that you continually open your heart and doors to walk us through such varied whisky history and styles. Thank you for your visiting us and for hosting us @casadevinos We love meeting up with you at whisky shows around Australia. Conversations and tastings are always memorable and thought provoking. We appreciate your hospitality, knowledge and kindness. Your ability to place the Australian scene in a global perspective so we can further clarify goals, is truly important to us.
Without an understanding of what you are hoping to achieve, you cannot develop and nurture a plan - and you have helped us to do this. Thank you, Jose for your part in clearing the waters.
Graham Wright
Long before drinking (let alone purchasing online) whisky became a fashionable ‘lifestyle choice’ in Australia, Graham was championing good malts. Even he admits that in the beginning ‘you could hardly even give it away’. How times change... Graham @theoddwhiskycoy is a pioneer of online sales in our industry. Backed by his wealth of knowledge and experience from his ‘Odd Bins’ days (a story within itself), he could write a book of wisdom on sales in our vast land.
From our First Release, Graham recognised what it was we had set out to achieve. He understood good whisky has a sense of place, that we were trying to produce something that spoke of where it came from and the philosophy behind it, and in his own way encouraged us to follow that path. Countless times we have ‘sidled up’ to Graham seeking his opinion on questions about the industry, both nationally and globally, to achieve our next goal. Graham Wright, thank you!
By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes...
Barrels of Gratitude #9
So... Gareth got a message from across the miles... Can you come over… and bring whisky?
Perth. Perth is apparently the most isolated capital city in the world.
Perth? Just try and stop us!
These barrels of gratitude are named after some incredible people in the Perth whisky scene... Nathan and Thao DeTienne
It was Nathan and Thao, a dynamic husband and wife team, who invited us to WA to be involved in Whisky Freedom.
To be honest, due to juggling business and family commitments, I’ve never been to Western Australia. We’ve always loaded Gareth into the Qantas slingshot and flung him over. What strikes us every single time Gareth goes is Nathan and Thao's outstanding level of organisation and professionalism from start to finish. Even when confronted with unexpected events out of their control, they work to overcome these and their integrity shines through.
Thank you Nathan and Thao for introducing Fleurieu to the openhearted whisky community of Perth through Whisky Freedom. For your commitment to showcasing great whisky, and insights on how whisky shows and public events may continue to evolve across the country we truly appreciate how you have included us.
PS Gareth has loved his trips there that now the pressure is on to make the next trip to Perth a family one!
Blake Jones
Don’t know if you saw this coming Blake – but this is to recognise all your extra miles in helping us across the miles from Adelaide to Perth. Blake enormous thanks go to you for being our guy on the ground in Perth for all of the Whisky Freedom events. Thank you for your generous heart in going out of your way to literally pick up the pieces when deliveries have gone ooooh sooo wrong, taking on extra stock, organising tastings, and being the friendly face sharing the Fleurieu story. We are so very grateful for all your support and positivity.
Looking forward to the day we can send a bottle your way from this barrel!
#perthwhisky #whiskyfreedom #barrelsofgratitude #gratitude #australiancraftspirits #australiancraftdistillers #australianwhisky #fleurieudistillery #goolwa #goolwawharf #goolwawhiskylove
Today in our 'Barrels of Gratitude' series we are celebrating whisky friendships. The spirit of whisky is so much more than what is bottled. Whisky celebrates new friendships and friendships that have stood the test of time. Today we celebrate Peter Golotta and Aly Roberts
Peter Golotta
Design and construction. Photography. Two totally different pursuits with one major thing in common.
Creativity.
With this barrel we celebrate an unexpected whisky friendship and a hero for us across disciplines. Businesses can thrive for all sorts of reasons. Important influences often overlooked are the people beyond the front faces of any business. With his passion for whisky Peter has walked beside several people (not just us) who have pursued the distillery dream. This journey is one of ups and downs. When we have faced our difficulties and our downs, Peter has been there with practical know how, contacts and personal encouragement. In our successes and highlights he has shared our joy. Thank you Peter for your sense of humour, friendship, understanding, and advice. You are a legend!
Aly Roberts
Floristry and photography. Two different pursuits with one major thing in common.
Creativity.
How do you capture almost a quarter of a century of positivity? Is that even possible to do?
With this barrel we celebrate a friendship of time. For many years my Irish born friend has been an anchor point in the changing landscape of our family and business life. Through highs and lows Aly has been in our corner of the world. This beautiful passionate woman has supported, encouraged and rolled up her sleeves to help out where ever she could. For this... and so many other things there are not enough words. Aly, thank you for all your energy, love, and dedication to helping us pursue our whisky dreams. Thank you!
PS ...and if you are truly blessed, you may even get to meet her at cellar door.
Brown paper packages tied up with string.... these are a few of my favourite things.... Thank you to my dear friend Aly @clover_and_cranberries for this surprise gift of love 💕
#friendship #friendsthatarefamily
In our 'Barrels of Gratitude' series, we are highlighting people who have made an impact on our business and also on our personal whisky journey. Today we are highlighting people closer to home.
While doors were opening and new faces were becoming more familiar in Melbourne, at home in South Australia a nautical themed cocktail bar nestled in the cobblestone street of Gilbert Place became our whisky and spirits home. Admiral Marcus Motteram and the Commodore, Cody Banks of Hains & Co, these barrels are named after you.
These fun loving gentlemen champion locally produced spirits and have opened their hearts and doors to SA distillers. Soon after opening Hains & Co they worked on providing opportunities for tastings and education sessions on a wide range of spirits tailored for a diverse audience. Their commitment to bringing people together through a variety of events, such as AWAS annual gatherings, various distillery tastings, ladies-only Pouring Ribbons sessions, and fundraisers has made Hains & Co a leader here within Adelaide.
Marcus Motteram is a man of extreme generosity and fun, who at the same time suffers no fools on his watch – which fits so beautifully with being the Commodore for the good ship Hains & Co.
Marcus, as our nearest and dearest bar owner you are truly a source of inspiration for ideas and can do attitude. We have always felt valued and have enormous respect for your 'relationship first' approach in business. Most of all thank you for your generous heart, believing in us and supporting Fleurieu and so many other SA distillers wholeheartedly.
As the Commodore at the good ship Hains & Co, Cody is a man who does everything in his power to make things happen. We light up with enormous grins when the name Cody Banks flashes up on our phones. It means something good in the world is about to happen. Thank you Cody for being a go to man especially when we are overstretched and can’t be in two places at once! We can’t wait to see what the whisky from your barrel will be like.
Enormous gratitude to you both for all you do!
#adelaidewhisky #hainsandco #hainsco #barrelsofgratitude #gratitude #australianwhisky
Gareth's very first visit to Whisky & Alement involved Luke McCarthy sneaking him in upstairs where Brian Hollingworth from Black Gate was presenting his fine single malts. Whisky & Alement have possibly the most diverse collection, and knowledgeable staff in Melbourne. This is due to the drive and philosophy of two leading bar owners in Australia. Today we are celebrating Brooke Hayman and Julian White... Brooke Hayman
Grace, style and knowledge are exemplified in this extraordinary whisky woman. Brooke Hayman’s true leadership shines through in her attention to detail. As co-owner, her work behind the scenes at Whisky & Alement ensures things run smoothly. While she does not seek acclaim or recognition for the amazing things she has personally accomplished, those around her are the first to cheer and publicly acknowledge these.
Julian White
As a pioneer of the Melbourne whisky bar scene, Julian has continued to go from strength to strength and this has so much to do with his people first approach. Julian’s passion to widen whisky horizons for others around him and promote the Australian Whisky Industry here and abroad shows big picture thinking.
I first met Brooke and Julian in 2017 when theywhole Whisky and Alement team visited us at our distillery cellar door. To be perfectly honest at that time I was a novice in this collective group of remarkable whisky knowledge and experience.
Thank you both for your encouragement when I was taking my first steps into whisky and for your amazing hospitality at Whisky & Alement. Your kindness in sharing favourite drams and ideas over the last few years has continued to enrich my whisky journey. After our visits to you Gareth and I always leave feeling as though we gained so much more than we have been able to offer. I am hoping in years to come the whisky from these Apera and Tawny barrels will just shine!
#whiskyandalement #whiskytasting #melbournebars #melbournewhiskybars #barrelsofgratitude #gratitude #australiancraftspirits #australiancraftdistillers #australianwhisky #fleurieudistillery #goolwa #goolwawharf #goolwawhiskylove
Barrels of Gratitude #5
That evening years ago with Seb Costello at Bad Frankie has always felt like a sliding door moment for us. It set in motion the meeting of many new Melbourne faces who have grown our knowledge and love of whisky. After visiting Kelvin and Yao at Elysian Whisky Bar, Gareth caught an Uber with Luke McCarthy to Whisky & Alement and it was here our tiny experience of making whisky in Goolwa opened up to the real world of the consumer. Today we celebrate Luke McCarthy... The Spanish Inquisition comes to mind when we think of Luke, because of torture of endless questions we put him through whenever we cross paths. Normally you’d think it would be the other way around, but as a journalist and author with extensive experience within the whisky industry here and abroad, being able to ask Luke about whisky, places he’d been, what he’d read and books he recommended has always been a delight for us.
Luke you are a wealth of whisky knowledge and your sharing of books and ideas have been a source of reflection, enjoyment and inspiration. Your honesty and constructive feedback on our whiskies have always been valued - for there is always room to improve on what has come before. Thank you!
Gareth and I are really looking forward to the years to come when we can send a bottle your way from this very barrel in our little town of Goolwa. Cheers Luke!
#whiskytasting #melbournebars #melbournewhiskybars #barrelsofgratitude #gratitude #australiancraftspirits #australiancraftdistillers #australianwhisky #fleurieudistillery #goolwa #goolwawharf #goolwawhiskylove
In our ‘Barrels of Gratitude’ series, we are highlighting people who have made an impact on our business and on our whisky journey.
While there are many faces you will instantly recognise in our story there are some... you may not.
Today we are celebrating Robert Schrapel at Bethany Wines in the Barossa Valley.
Barrels of Gratitude #4
Launching into a new venture of any sort invokes different reactions from those around you. Some openly display doubt, others are cautionary... then there those extraordinary ones who are encouraging and inspirational. For us, Robert Schrapel from Bethany Wines has been that extraordinary person. Without him there would not have been a Fleurieu whisky.
In the early days of craft beer, Robert was the one who encouraged us to follow our interests. He himself had walked a similar journey within the wine industry in the Barossa when family owned wineries were an emerging industry in the 80's so was able to share his knowledge and experience in a very practical way. An invaluable sounding board on sourcing equipment, setting up business and choosing location. Robert made himself available, happy to offer advice and guidance whenever we needed it in setting up our brewery.
Fast forward. By 2011, both the wine and beer industries had grown exponentially and our next focus as a business was in the emerging industry of craft distilling. Whisky is the culmination of wisdom from three different industries. Brewing, distilling and aging using barrels previously used by the wine industry. Our conversations with Rob have changed and we appreciate that he still to encourages us to think outside the box.
Robert, no words can truly express our love and gratitude for the encouragement, support and advice over these 32 years. You have truly changed the course of our lives through your positive outlook. While you have seen endless barrels come and go over the years - this one has your name on it!
Much love Ange and Gareth 🥃😘 #bethanywines #barossawine #barossavalley #southaustralia #barrelsofgratitude #gratitude #australiancraftspirits #australiancraftdistillers #australianwhisky #fleurieudistillery
In our ‘Barrels of Gratitude’ series we are highlighting people who have made an impact on our business and more particularly on our personal whisky journey. Today we are celebrating Kelvin Low and Yao Wong 🥃💕 Gareth met Kelvin after trade presentation at Bad Frankie (Thanks again Seb!). Afterwards Kelvin was kind enough to offer him a lift to the amazing bar called the Elysian…
The world of whisky beyond our shores is vast. It can be confusing on where to begin or even what pathway to take to expand your understanding and appreciation. For those of you who have visited the Elysian you’d know the brilliance of the whisky aficionados behind the bar. Kelvin and Yao have wowed us every time we have visited Melbourne with what they’ve had on offer. Their style, background knowledge and expertise in expanding our whisky knowledge and palate with rare bottlings from across the world has been enormously appreciated. Subsequent revisits have allowed us to ask them a myriad of questions on all sorts of aspects of the whisky scene not only in Australia but on a global scale.
Kelvin & Yao thank you for the way you carefully curate your whisky offerings for an Australian audience. You are both an amazing sources of information. We can’t wait to return, gain new insights and immerse ourselves in your wonderful hospitality. Thank you!
#theelysianwhiskybar #theelysian #whiskytasting #melbournebars #melbournewhiskybars #fitzroybars #barrelsofgratitude #gratitude #australiancraftspirits #australiancraftdistillers #australianwhisky #fleurieudistillery #goolwa #goolwawharf #goolwawhiskylove
The closures and quieter weeks have also had benefits in being able to tackle and complete projects with less distractions. Fleurieu Distillery’s chief cook and bottle washer created a new ‘toy’ for us.
This twelve head bottle washer is the latest innovation from the ingenuity of one Gareth Andrews and his programming and plumbing prowess. As with all things of worth, it is all the unseen work that creates ease of use.
This washer channels single use filtered water through these nozzles and is programmed to pre-rinse bottles. Pop your 12 bottles on and if you need to walk away to other jobs - no problem. Once the rinse cycle has finished the program automatically turns things off. It is so easy to operate that our kids are able to run it! When all bottle washing is finished and you want to store it water free - connect the air compressor and blow all hoses and nozzles clear of droplets.
Earlier this month we had a chance to test drive with our last bottling run. It was a family effort with our gorgeous boys taking turns at the bottle washing and capping end of the line.
The team all agreed it was simple to use and worked well with the bottle filler. Just awesome - thanks to Gareth and the enthusiastic boys who helped out!
#australiancraftdistillers #australianwhisky #craftdistillery #distillerylife #familybusiness #fleurieudistillery#goolwawhiskylove #goolwa #goolwawharf