What does it mean to say
“Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky?”
An appellation is a legal obligation, subject to national and international law, protecting the production methodology and geographical origins of a category - like say Cognac, Champagne, Sherry, Bourbon or Scotch.
Tasmania does NOT have a Tasmanian Single Malt whisky appellation at this point in time - but we need an appellation to protect the Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky Catagory - to protect the place of origin - and to define & protect what it means to say ’Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky.’
One of the world’s best and most successful whisky appellations is - Scotch whisky - it’s wise to understand this appellation - and then offer insight into what we actually do at Callington Mill Distillery in order to construct what we believe best constitutes the category - “Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky."
Scottish Single Malt Whiskey is defined in simple terms as follows:
- Produced in Scotland
- Only from malted barley
- Processed at that single distillery into a mash
- Fermented at that single distillery only by the addition of yeast
- Distilled in batches at that single distillery, only in copper pot stills
- Matured in Scotland only in OAK casks not greater than 700 litres
- Matured only in Scotland for a minimum of 3 years
- No substance can be added
- Except for water & caramel colouring
- Minimum ABV is 40%
Although we don’t have a Single Malt whisky appellation at this point in time in Tasmania, at Callington Mill Distillery we decided we want to control the entire Single Malt Whisky making process summarised as follows:
- Our distillery is in Tasmania
- Our distillery uses only Tasmanian malted barley ( whereas Scottish whiskey can use any barley from around the world )
- Our distillery mills the malted barley into a grist
- Our distillery processes the milled malted barley (grist) into a mash to produce what is known as wort
- Our distillery ferments the wort by the addition of only yeast to produce alcohol and flavour compounds resulting in what is known as ‘wash’
- Our distillery double distills the ‘wash’ in copper pot stills producing low wines and new make spirit
- We mature our whisky in Oak Casks for a minimum of 3 years - unlike the Scots we do not add any caramel colouring
- We do not ‘flock’ or chill filter - minimum ABV 40%
This is the standard we would like to see apply to all Tasmanian Single Malt whisky being made.
The consumer will then trust the authenticity, uniqueness and place of origin of the Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky Brand - where single distilleries in Tasmania will engage in the entire whiskey making process at their distilleries - promoting genuine individual craft, diversity and character to the Tasmanian brand.
At Callington Mill we believe that if you don’t make your single malt whisky from malted barley to bottle - then you’re NOT making whisky - someone else is making it for you!