The dream

It started with a vision. A historic homestead in the central Tasmanian highlands with access to established barley fields and a stream of pure Tasmanian water nearby. An entrepreneurial couple purchased the homestead and converted the barn into a whisky distillery. Under the watchful eye of master distiller, Anthony White and manager Philip Gordon, a unique facility was established. It rocketed to fame when Jim Murray, arguably the world authority on whisky, scored one of the releases 95.5 out of 100, putting it into the world’s top 50 whiskies.

The next part of the story came about after an encounter between Michael Eather, Tasmanian artist and owner of indigenous art gallery “Fireworks”, then in Newstead, and Paul Licina, spine surgeon who had set up the Blue Sky Coffee roastery and café near the gallery. Drawn together by their shared heritage (both their wives are Serbian) and their love of indigenous art, Michael and Paul discovered their mutual interest in fine whisky. Michael had been friends with Anthony and Phil his youth in Tasmania, and had been following the growth of the distillery. Together, Michael and Paul decided to back the dream and purchase some barrels.

The reality

Rapid expansion by the Tasmanian company led to inevitable growing pains, and in a highly publicised implosion, it collapsed into administration. Many years of to-and-fro ensued, with Michael and Paul choosing to hold onto their barrels rather than selling them. Meanwhile, Phil and Anthony set up White Label Distillery and continued to nurture the barrels of whisky. They continued to mature and finally, 8 years after being laid down in barrel, they were able to be accessed and sampled. The first cask, number 1222, had matured perfectly in its 100 litre bourbon barrel and was deemed ready. With no real business plan, Paul and Michael decided to bottle the barrel and sample the product. To their delight, it revealed an amazing taste profile, and After Dark was born. The next two barrels, number 140 and 1221, were so different but each so interesting after 9 years in barrel. Anthony decided to blend them and declared the result one of the best Tasmanian whiskies that he had tried. Lightning Strike was the name given to this product. The last barrel, 1220, was a problem child. It was decided to decant it into a 200 litre bourbon cask and to roll the barrel to draw out the potential from this whisky. The experiment was rewarded, 10 years after first being barrelled, with a complex whisky named Man Grove.

With Phil now running 1838 Spirits and Anthony continuing to oversee White Label Distillery, they sampled the range with Paul and Michael, together with experts in the industry and with whisky connoisseurs. The whisky was met with universal praise and released onto the market in the most boutique and well regarded establishments and liquor outlets.

The future

Where the journey goes from here will depend where the wind blows, but the ship is likely to continue its search for the finest Tasmanian whiskies, many of which have been lost and are ready to be rediscovered.