Launceston Distillery operates out of the historic Hangar 17 at Launceston Airport, once home to Australian National Airways and Ansett. Founded in 2015 as a partnership between five friends, it was the first distillery to be built in the area since the Caledonian Distillery closed more than 180 years ago.

The experienced Chris Condon, one of the five partners in the business, is the man most responsible for the Launceston Distillery single malt whisky range. From a background in the pharmaceutical industry, Condon went on to work as a brewing team leader at James Boag’s Brewery and then became a founding distiller at Nant Distillery.

His calm and fastidious approach is on show in Launceston’s single malts. Elegant and restrained, Launceston’s whiskies are matured in local fortified wine and ex-bourbon casks, and have been impressing whisky enthusiasts across the country for their refinement and complexity.

To get a taste of these whiskies, you can drop into the distillery and cellar door, only a 10-minute walk from the Launceston airport terminal, where tours are run on the hour from 10am to 4pm.