On 26th May 2022, Lark Distillery officially reached the 30-year milestone of crafting Tasmanian whisky. Celebrations were held at its new whisky village in Pontville, with allegedly 200 guests from all across Australia coming together to bring in the milestone. Among those at the event included Whisky Magazine Hall of Famer Bill Lark, and one of Tasmanian whisky’s so-called founding fathers Patrick Maguire.
One of the biggest highlights of the night’s celebrations was a rich and colourful drone show, which told the story of Tasmania’s distilling industry using no more than 60 drones and 16 million colours, accompanied by a composition from artist Ben Salter, curated by Michael Bugelli and Donovan Miller.
The story of Lark is one from humble beginnings, beginning in the 1980s with Bill Lark left wondering why single malt wasn’t being produced in Tasmania. For the first time in 154 years, he and Lyn were granted a Tasmanian distiller’s license, kick stating a trend which led to the opening and operation of 70 distilleries in the state.
Lark has undoubtedly become one of the country’s biggest distilleries, and following the acquisition of the Pontville distillery in October last year, they now hold claim to a 500,000-litre distilling capacity. To mark the achievement, Lark have released two new single malts – Origins Single Malt Whisky and Rare Cask Series Glenfarclas.
The first, Origins, is crafted with the same water where the Lark whisky journey began – Lake Sorrel – and it’s used to cut this single malt aged in Australian fortified casks.
Origins has been described as having nose notes of orange blossoms interweaved with caramel, a lemon curd and apricots and cream mouthfeel, concluded with a buttery hazelnut and fruit mince pies finish.
Secondly, Rare Cask Series Glenfarclas is finished in casks that once held Glenfarclas 20-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Highlands. It’s said that Bill and Lyn Lark also wanted to resemble this particular whisky given the opportunity, with a bond between the two distilleries having been formed through the years.
Glenfarclas has been described as having aromas of fruit mince pie with gentle hints of Tasmanian Highland peat, a stewed fruits and custard palate, followed by a long luscious and full finish.
Bill Lark commented on the status of Lark today, and the journey that the Tasmanian distillery has been on: “From humble beginnings on a kitchen table thirty years ago, curiosity and courage bore Tasmania’s very first licensed whisky. Glenfarclas and Origins Single Malt Whisky are both a unique tribute to the significance of whisky-making not only for Lark but for Australia. Both are a celebration of Tasmanian whisky and rich in character and heavy with history. On behalf of the entire team, Lark raises a glass to what has become a world recognised whisky, a taste of Tassie’s tiny island.”
One of the biggest highlights of the night’s celebrations was a rich and colourful drone show, which told the story of Tasmania’s distilling industry using no more than 60 drones and 16 million colours, accompanied by a composition from artist Ben Salter, curated by Michael Bugelli and Donovan Miller.
The story of Lark is one from humble beginnings, beginning in the 1980s with Bill Lark left wondering why single malt wasn’t being produced in Tasmania. For the first time in 154 years, he and Lyn were granted a Tasmanian distiller’s license, kick stating a trend which led to the opening and operation of 70 distilleries in the state.
Chris Thomson and Bill Lark
Lark has undoubtedly become one of the country’s biggest distilleries, and following the acquisition of the Pontville distillery in October last year, they now hold claim to a 500,000-litre distilling capacity. To mark the achievement, Lark have released two new single malts – Origins Single Malt Whisky and Rare Cask Series Glenfarclas.
The first, Origins, is crafted with the same water where the Lark whisky journey began – Lake Sorrel – and it’s used to cut this single malt aged in Australian fortified casks.
Origins has been described as having nose notes of orange blossoms interweaved with caramel, a lemon curd and apricots and cream mouthfeel, concluded with a buttery hazelnut and fruit mince pies finish.
Larks Distillery Pontville
Secondly, Rare Cask Series Glenfarclas is finished in casks that once held Glenfarclas 20-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Highlands. It’s said that Bill and Lyn Lark also wanted to resemble this particular whisky given the opportunity, with a bond between the two distilleries having been formed through the years.
Glenfarclas has been described as having aromas of fruit mince pie with gentle hints of Tasmanian Highland peat, a stewed fruits and custard palate, followed by a long luscious and full finish.
Bill Lark commented on the status of Lark today, and the journey that the Tasmanian distillery has been on: “From humble beginnings on a kitchen table thirty years ago, curiosity and courage bore Tasmania’s very first licensed whisky. Glenfarclas and Origins Single Malt Whisky are both a unique tribute to the significance of whisky-making not only for Lark but for Australia. Both are a celebration of Tasmanian whisky and rich in character and heavy with history. On behalf of the entire team, Lark raises a glass to what has become a world recognised whisky, a taste of Tassie’s tiny island.”
