Corra Linn Distillery

About the distillery

Corra Linn Distillery is located in Relbia and looks out over the North Esk River Valley in Tasmania. It’s a small distillery with a focus on precision and small batches, where the whisky is made using local ingredients and water from mountain reserves. The range is small, but clearly defined: a single malt whisky and a sloe berry gin, and the whisky is reflected again with port-, sherry- and oak character, as well as citrus and spice.

History

The story begins with John Wielstra’s growing interest in whisky. After following Tasmania’s whisky pioneers, including Bill Lark and Patrick Maguire from Sullivan’s Cove, he began experimenting himself on a still that his wife Karen and their daughters Emily and Claire gave him as a birthday present. It became more than a hobby. He says that for two years he read, worked, and visited many places to learn the craft better. Later, the distillery was able to present its single malt as a result of that process, and in October 2019 the whisky was awarded gold at the China Wine and Spirits Competition.

Ingredients and production

Corra Linn works with small batches and places emphasis on Tasmanian ingredients. The water is described as a key element and comes from mountain reserves that run down through the North Esk River valley. The distillery uses malt, Tasmanian honey, and oak barrels, which are refashioned by a local, well-regarded cooper and charred to specification. It paints a picture of a place where craftsmanship and local resources matter just as much as the distillation itself. The only concrete product description points to a whisky built around balanced oak, port and sherry from refilled casks, while the same side also highlights a soft and sweet style with citrus and a spicy finish.

Maturation and cask types

The maturation is carried out in casks that are both refashioned and adapted according to specification. The distillery mentions oak casks and refilled casks, and the whisky is described with port and sherry tones from the refilled barrels. It describes a maturation where the character of the wood, previous contents, and toasting/charring are an active part of the flavor, rather than simply a neutral container.

Whiskies

The current range is small and concentrated. On the whisky side, Single Malt Whisky is the clear focal point and stands as the distillery’s signature release. It’s sold alongside a Sloe Berry Gin in the shop, but the whisky is the product that carries the distillery’s identity and has also received an international medal. The overall impression is a range that is narrow, yet clearly defined by Tasmania, small batches, and a style of soft sweetness, oak, and fruity cask notes.

Whisky style and tasting profile

Single Malt Whisky shows a consistent profile with balanced oak, port and sherry from the casks, soft sweetness, citrus, and a spicy finish. This results in a whisky that feels both rounded and lightly fruity, but also gains structure from wood and spice.

Visit the distillery

Corra Linn Distillery welcomes visitors, and guests have received tours and tastings with John Wielstra. There is also an on-site shop, so you can buy the whisky directly after the visit. The contact section lists a phone number and email address, and the material mentions no fixed opening hours or requirement for advance booking, so the safest way to read it is that you can come to the distillery for a tasting and a tour and shop in the store.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

The distillery’s approach is characterized by precision, small batches, and the use of the best Tasmanian ingredients. The water from mountain reserves, the local honey, and casks that are prepared by a Tasmanian cooper and charred according to specification all show a clear focus on craftsmanship and the distillery’s own resources. Here, it’s quality—not volume—that drives the work.

Prices and awards

• Gold medal (2019, Gold, Single Malt Whisky)

Latest news

Corra Linn Distillery just won another prestigious accolade. – 2019-10-26

Single Malt Whisky won a gold medal at the China Wine and Spirits Competition.