Hellyers Road Distillery Takes Gold at Tasmanian Export Awards

Celebrating excellence in Tasmanian whisky.

Hellyers Road Distillery has added another feather to its cap, winning the coveted Agribusiness, Food, and Beverages award at the 2024 Tasmanian Export Awards. This prestigious event, which occurred earlier this month, celebrated the significant contributions of Tasmanian companies that excel in showcasing their exceptional products and services on the international stage.

This win is particularly momentous for Hellyers Road, marking their debut in this award category, complementing their impressive history of accolades including having won the Small Business of the Year award three times and the title of Tasmanian Exporter of the Year twice since 2017.

“Winning the Agribusiness, Food, and Beverage award is a testament to the hard work of our team over the past year and their daily efforts across all our markets,” stated Derek Charge, CEO of Hellyers Road.

With a growing international demand, Hellyers Road’s exports now span across various regions including Europe, the United Kingdom, North America, Japan, Taiwan, China, Macau, and Singapore. Notably, there has been a spike in demand for their premium offerings, particularly from European and Asian markets recently.

Amanda Beck, the National Sales Manager at the distillery, highlighted the company’s ability to export significant volumes of their premium single malt whisky. “Our consistent recognition at globally acclaimed whisky and spirits competitions allows us to export not only our core releases but also our highly sought-after single cask, limited edition, and small-batch offerings. These exports elevate the global reputation of Tasmanian produce and set a benchmark for quality.”

Discovering unique flavors of Tasmanian whisky.

The renewed focus on the U.S. market has borne fruit for Hellyers Road through a successful partnership with Rare Hare Spirits, leading to the introduction of The Tempest—an exquisite 20-year-old single malt whisky. This expression was aged for 17 years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels, followed by a three-year finish in port casks, making it a standout offering in their lineup.

Charge emphasized the significance of this sale, indicating, “This sale was pivotal in reestablishing our presence in the U.S. market. Rare Hare Spirits shares our commitment to high-end quality, aligning perfectly with our core values.” This partnership sets a promising trajectory for Hellyers Road as they seek to augment their brand in a vast consumer base.

In addition to this new partnership, Hellyers Road’s presence at international Whisky Live events in France and Poland has been fruitful. Head Distiller Fiona Coutts, who received the award on behalf of the team, expressed her enthusiasm stating, “The reception we received for our whiskies at Whisky Live Paris and Whisky Live Warsaw has been phenomenal. Seeing people around the world enjoy our products is a huge morale boost for our team.”

These platforms allow the distillery to showcase their remarkable whiskies while connecting with distributors, trade representatives, and consumers to explore new markets.

A Bright Future Ahead

With their recent accolade, Hellyers Road Distillery is set to represent Tasmania at the Australian Export Awards in Canberra this November. This representation is a reflection of their commitment to quality and excellence in the world of whisky, ensuring that Tasmania remains a standout destination for whisky enthusiasts globally.

As Hellyers Road continues to spread its wings, the future looks bright for this Tasmanian powerhouse in the spirits industry. Their dedication to producing high-quality whisky and expanding their influence is sure to put them on the map for years to come.

With these promising developments, 2024 is shaping up to be a landmark year for Hellyers Road Distillery and Tasmanian whisky as a whole.