Water of Life

Headlands Distilling  Company 

With widespread international recognition and appreciation consistently expanding, Australia’s craft distillery scene is growing exponentially and especially the last couple of years have seen distilleries mushroom across the country. While more often than not there are always interesting drops to be found and innovative takes on the craft of distilling to be discovered, there are few Australian distilleries whose emissions have entered my steady rotation of sippers.

However, Headlands Distilling is one of them.

Based out of Wollongong and having honed their craft by first creating their own premium grade vodka, the founders meticulously analysed each facet of the variables that contribute to creating a quality distillate and how to calibrate it to arrive at exactly the taste profile they envisioned, for which the scientific background and connection to the University of Wollongong came in handy as it allowed them access to the gear of the science department. 

Once their approach has been refined and with their own customised energy-efficient distillation setup centred around their sustainable approach and the minimisation of waste, they started to branch out into gin and related spirits.  

Luckily, early on in their journey they started putting down barrels to produce whiskey with new and unique flavour profiles, with all barley sourced locally and most of the used barrels obtained from local Australian wineries specialising in fortified wines, which they then shaved and re-charred.

As I unfortunately missed out on Headland Distillery’s debut Bourbon cask release, my first exposure to how they channel their alchemy was via a recent batch of their 5-year old Single Malt  Apera Cask, i.e. the down under equivalent to Spanish Oloroso barrels.

Upon approach, the nostrils are tickled by floral and dried fruity notes, which sit against a backdrop of spicy, rich malty and honeyed smoke.  

On the top of the mouth, dried fruits, vanilla and walnuts form a union and unfold their magic enhanced by a underlying, subtly honeyed smokiness that seamlessly transitions into the lingering finish, which reverberates with chocolate and toasted marshmallow flavours.
Clocking in at a moderate 46%, a wonderfully complex and well-calibrated drop.

Headlands’ Muscat Cask expression has been refined by napping in fifteen year old Seppeltsfield Rare Muscat oak casks, a fortified wine varietal exclusive to the Victorian Rutherglen region.

The drop knows to reel one in with the fragrant top floral aromas, which sit on a dominant backbone of fresh raisins and dates. 
On the palate sweet rich lychee fruits take over with a warming mouthfeel, followed by hints of browned butter and caramelized sugar, contrasted by a crescendo of vanilla and charred oak notes.

With their wholesome approach to distilling, Headlands Distillery has its focus firmly set on calibrating their pricing targeting the sweet spot between catering to them creating premium products and the implications of producing in a country with some of the highest excise taxes on alcoholic spirits, yet not being too expensive compared to international distilleries, which benefit from economy of scale.

The biggest compliment I can make extend to Headlands Distilling Co. is that despite me harbouring a devoted preference for whisky, I immensely enjoy their Tidal Lines Plum Gin, which not only is a deliberate nod to their turf via soaking local plums in gin to then have it matured for a year in French Oak wine barrels for twelve months, but proves to be sippable with complex flavour profile courtesy of orris and angelica root, cinnamon, fresh juniper and juniper berries needing neither soda or tonic to stand for itself.

For anyone having an appreciation for spirits, it will not be difficult to see that Headlands Distillery ( https://headlands.com.au ) with their talented, agile and ambitious approach paired substantiated by their focus on creating value and quality in each facet of their offerings, will go far and evolve to become an internationally sought after brand. 

You will want to get in early… 

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image from company website