Westernport Single Malt Whisky
About the distillery
Westernport Single Malt Whisky is located in Blind Bight on the shores of Westernport Bay in Victoria, and is a small batch distillery with a distinct coastal identity. Two men work here from mashing to bottling, building their whisky around nearly 100% Australian ingredients, water from Thompson Reservoir, and old casks that have had a long life with fortified wines.
History
The story begins in 2018, when two friends with a passion for camping, dirt biking, fishing, and outdoor life sat by a campfire and decided to make the dream of their own whisky a reality. They took a whisky course in Tasmania and quickly became eager to build something themselves. The project took shape on 25 June 2018, when they started the distillery in Blind Bight by Westernport Bay in Victoria. Along the way, they sold personal belongings to finance the venture, and they placed early emphasis on learning both mashing, distillation, and coopering. The result is Westernport Distillery, where they manage the entire process themselves—from the first step to the finished bottle.
Ingredients and production
The production is set up as small-scale, independent craft. They use almost 100% Australian ingredients and water from Thompson Reservoir, and they describe their whisky as created on the coast in Blind Bight. The entire process is carried out by the two owners: they mash, distill, mature, re-cooper, and bottle themselves, and they even apply the labels to the bottles and insert corks by hand. A key choice is their work with antique barrels, which they source from around the world. They have also taken a course in coopering to be able to prepare the casks for their own spirit. This gives the production a very hands-on feel, where both the raw materials, casks, and the final bottling work are controlled in-house.
Maturation and cask types
Maturation is based on old casks with a history in fortified wine. The distillery uses antique barrels that have held and matured fortified wines for between 20 and 70 years before being re-coopered and made ready for new spirit. This gives a clear indication that the cask selection is not just about the wood, but also about the world of wine the cask has been part of. So this involves reusing and rebuilding casks as a central approach in the development of the whisky.
Whiskies
The range consists of three core expressions: Muscat Cask, Port Cask, and Sherry Cask. In addition, there is a special limited release, Single Malt Whisky – Dutschke Sweet Semillon Cask. The names of the core releases point to wine casks with very different backgrounds, and the overall lineup is designed to showcase multiple angles of the distillery’s style. Muscat is set up as a whisky for special occasions, Port is intended for sharing around the campfire, and Sherry is described as a whisky for every day of the week. The limited release serves as a more special expression alongside the basic range.
| Whisky | Type / series | Cask and style | Tasting profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscat Cask | Single Malt Whisky; Westernport Single Malt Whisky | Muscat Cask | One of the distillery’s three core varieties and described as a whisky to be enjoyed on special occasions. | Current; Core range; Shop |
| Port Cask | Single Malt Whisky; Westernport Single Malt Whisky | Port Cask | One of the distillery’s three core varieties and described as a whisky that is well suited to share with friends around the campfire. | Current; Core range; Shop |
| Sherry Cask | Single Malt Whisky; Westernport Single Malt Whisky | Sherry Cask | One of the distillery’s three core varieties and described as a whisky that can be enjoyed any day of the week. | Current; Core range; Shop |
| Single Malt Whisky – Dutschke Sweet Semillon Cask | Single Malt Whisky; Westernport Special Limited Release Whisky | Sweet Semillon Cask | A special limited release in the distillery’s whisky club and special series. | Limited; Shop |
The whisky styles and tasting profile
The style is clearly tied to the coast of Westernport Bay, and beyond that, the range points toward fruity sweetness, vinous depth, and dried fruit. The Muscat cask suggests a more aromatic and sweetness-driven direction, the Port cask a fuller and darker fruit profile, while Sherry and Sweet Semillon lean toward a vinous character and mature fruit. Overall, it presents an expression that combines an Australian coastal feel with the sweetness and complexity that old wine casks can bring.
Visit the distillery
The distillery welcomes visitors with a private tour and tasting. Here, guests taste three core varieties and one special limited release, and 10% discount is offered on bottles purchased during the tour. The experience takes place Thursday to Sunday: Thursday and Friday from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM or 2:30 PM. The visit also gives the opportunity to meet the two men behind the distillery.
The listed opening hours are Open Thursday to Sunday. Thursday and Friday 6:00 PM–7:30 PM. Saturday and Sunday 12:00 PM–1:30 PM or 2:30 PM.
See times and book a visit.
Philosophy and craft
Westernport builds its identity on ownership of the entire process, craftsmanship control, and a willingness to do things themselves. They use almost exclusively Australian raw materials, work with antique barrels, and have learned coopering in order to shape their own casks. It’s a project where details matter, from mashing and distillation to labels and hand-stamped closures.