Burnie-based whisky label Hellyers Road Distiller have won two gold and one silver medal at the recent World Whisky Awards in London.
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Hellyers Road general manager and master distiller Mark Littler said he was “delighted” that all three whiskies entered into the competition came away with awards in the Australian divisions.
“The real buzz was that one of gold awards was for Henry’s Legacy range which also won gold in the previous two years, making it a highly appreciated single malt.”
The Henry’s Legacy range is a 12 cask series of whiskies which are named after a different North West landmark each year.
Mr Littler said single malt whisky followers enjoyed this connection to stories about the region.
The Hellyers Road Distillery Slightly Peated whisky won gold in the Australian no age division at the World Whisky Awards while the Master Series Port Cask Matured whisky won silver in the single cask Australian division.
Mr Littler said award winning, limited release whiskies would become a good investment for collectors.
The distillery was also named Tasmania’s Exporter of the Year for 2017.
“Winning awards is important to whisky distillers as it puts our product on a pedestal,” he said.
This week the distillery welcomed four Japanese chefs and a sommelier who were winners of Austrade’s Taste of Australia competition in Tokyo last year.
“I took them on a guided tour of the distillery yesterday which included a masterclass session,” Mr Littler said.
Winning awards is important to whisky distillers as it puts our product on a pedestal
- Mark Littler
The group enjoyed a four-course degustation dinner paired with whisky by the distillery’s chef.
Japan is a significant market for whisky, especially single malt whisky.
Hellyers Road Distillery will soon ship its fourth order to Japan since 2015.
It will include a palate of single malt whisky and two single casks of premium whisky specially selected by their distributor Toa Shoji.
“The Japanese certainly appreciate single malt whisky. They are becoming more interested in new world whiskies particularly ones like ours at Hellyers road in Tasmania,” Mr Litter said.
“Will continue to visit their markets and to have customers come out and see us here, making and appreciating whiskies from the distillery.”