Hellyer's Road

Burnie, Tasmania

Est. 1997. Stills: 60000L Wash 31000L Spirit. Oak: American ex-Bourbon. Status: Operating

In 1996 the Australian Dairy Industry was deregulated. Betta Milk Co-operative then identified a niche in the domestic market for the production of whisky and vodka products. Hellyer's Road Distillery, named after a local landmark and explorer of note, was established and an all new purpose built operation was established on the Betta Milk site in Burnie, Tasmania. A cursory tour of Hellyer's Road leaves no question that this is a serious business, employing state of the art equipment and capable of large scale production. The flagship whiskies are distilled from Tasmanian grown malted barley using local rainwater, then matured in American white oak barrels. New additions to the range include Hellyer's Road Lightly Peated Single Malt and a whisky finished in Tasmanian Pinot Noir casks.

Hellyer's Road Original Single Malt Whisky
Tasting note:Very pale straw colour with water like hue. An enticing nose. Primarily fresh, ripe fruits -Peach and cantaloupe above citrus, vanilla shortbread and honey. The palate is stunning. A rich, creamy texture delivers wave upon wave of ripe fruits above vanilla and spice. Texture, delivery, balance all superb. Outstanding value for money.46.2% Alc./Vol.

Hellyer's Road Slightly Peated Single Malt Whisky
Tasting note:Very pale straw colour with water like hue. The malty nose shows notes of grapefruit, prune and raisin toast above honey and vanilla. Rich chewy entry, very malty, grapefruit, prune and camphor above savoury biscuit background. Excellent balance, texture and delivery. A touch of salt and smoke emerges on the back palate and plays second fiddle during the aftertaste, complementing the spicy raisin toast notes. Australia's answer to Highland Park?46.2% Alc./Vol.

Hellyer's Road Peated Single Malt Whisky
Tasting note:Produced from imported peated malt. Pale straw colour with water like hue. The nose is very similar to those of Islay. Fresh peat smoke, salt, kelp, liquorice, honey, vanilla buttermenthol. A drop of water reveals a layer of fresh apples, very 'Ardbeggian.' The palate is again, very rich and plush. Smoky, salty flavours hover above a subtle layer of apple and cinnamon, the sweetness from the peat very evident. Long smoky apple and spice aftertaste. An astonishingly good tribute to Islay.46.2% Alc./Vol.

Hellyer's Road Original Single Malt Whisky Pinot Noir Finish
Tasting note:Straw colour with water like hue. Floral top note above raisins, chocolate and barley sugar. The palate is a driven by cherry chocolate and dry cocoa, vanilla and honey in the background. Very generously textured and pristinely balanced. Very long cherry chocolate, vanilla and spice aftertaste. An unusual whisky, yet immensely appealing.46.2% Alc./Vol.

Hellyer's Road 10 Year Old Single Malt Whisky
Tasting note: Pale gold / straw colour. A curious aroma includes toasted cereals, cocoa and coffee with an odd unripe fruitiness in the background - not unattractive - something like apple peel combined with a forgivable trace of sulphur. A light entry builds into a concentrated, spicy mid palate. Sweet cereals and cocoa. Like the nose, there’s an unusual undercurrent here that’s similar to chewing straw or dried grass. Spicy, tingly finish. Concludes with a trace of sulphur followed by a subtle, semi sweet, dried grass, short bread and tingly spirit fade. 46.3% Alc./Vol