Listen to highlights from Lark Distillery’s 30th anniversary and an interview with founder, Australian whisky pioneer Bill Lark, in this exclusive Drinks Adventures podcast episode.
2022 is certainly turning out to be a landmark year for Australian distilling, in many respects.
In June, Starward Whisky was named the Most Awarded Distillery of the Year at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the first time an Australian distiller has taken out this title.
Then came the news that the news that three out of four nominees for the International Wine & Spirit Competition – IWSC International Gin Producer of the Year are Australian: Kalkimoon and Granddad Jack’s, from Queensland, and from Victoria, Naught Gin.
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And you heard just recently on the podcast from Philip Moore, the first Australian inducted into the Gin Magazine Hall Of Fame.
It all coincides with the 30th anniversary of Lark Distillery, the whisky company founded by Bill Lark in 1992, which effectively started the modern era of Australian distilling.
I sat down with Bill Lark for a chat reflecting on the milestone in this special episode, produced in partnership with Lark.
I learned how John Grant, fifth generation owner of Scotland’s famous Glenfarclas distillery, helped Bill set up his distillery in the very early days.
And I asked Bill his thoughts on Lark as it is today, a very different enterprise to what he had originally envisioned.
First up though, I’m excited to share some highlights from Lark Distillery’s 30th anniversary gala event held on May 26, 2022 at Lark’s new site in Pontville, Tasmania.
It was MCed by Bill’s son Jack and attended by 200 guests from across Australia. You’ll hear from Bill and fellow Tasmanian pioneer Patrick Maguire, formerly of Sullivans Cove Whisky.
Also speaking at the event was Cam Brett, co-founder of Spring Bay Distillery and president of the Tasmanian Whisky and Spirits Association.
The celebrations started by honouring the Mumurimina (Mu mee ree mee nah) Country that the Pontville site resides on, with a Welcome to Country and traditional smoking ceremony.
You can get your hands on a variety of Lark’s exciting limited release whiskies now at larkdistillery.com.
Whiskies like Lark Origins Single Malt Whisky, a special release crafted with water from Lake Sorell, where Bill Lark had that fateful discussion with his father-in-law that led to his founding Lark Distillery.
This special release celebrating 30 years of Tasmanian whisky is available now.
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