An Australian distillery has begun work on the country’s first underground dunnage-style barrel store in a bid to conquer the challenges of maturing whisky in the warm Antipodean climate. Victoria-based Kinglake Distillery hope to have the underground construction completed by the end of the year.
Kingslake distillery was founded in 2018 by husband and wife duo Sam Lowe and Chantal Daniels. The distillery produces carbon neutral single malt whisky using high quality, sustainably sourced ingredients.
Like many distilleries whose home is in a warm climate, the whisky makers at Kingslake found that the higher ambient temperature was accelerating the maturation process of their young whiskies.
In short, the wood grain of whisky casks will expand in warmer climates. This will allow in the spirit to seep into the oak staves, greatly affecting the overall flavour, colour and texture of the final whisky.
While many distilleries across the world have used this to their advantage, since the spirit can achieve bolder, fuller flavours in a shorter period of time when compared to maturation in cooler countries, it presents a challenge when trying to craft a well-aged whisky.
This ‘accelerated’ maturation in warmer climates can ultimately lead to a flavour profile dominated by woody, oaky aromas when aged for longer periods. It’s generally believed that they lack the balance and complexity of older whiskies matured in countries with a cooler climate like Scotland.
With dreams of releasing a well-aged single malt like their Scottish counterparts, Kingslake have taken the bold move to build a subterranean barrel store at the distillery with hopes that this will act as a counter to the climate above ground.
The distillery have directly looked to Scotland for inspiration. Traditional Scotch dunnage warehouses are naturally cool and humid thanks to their thick walls and earthen floor. Importantly these conditions are also stable, making them ideal for spirit maturation.
Kingslake’s underground facility aims to emulate as many of these conditions as possible, which will hopefully slow the maturation process for their whisky. In turn this will allow their whisky to develop both balance and complexity over decades.
Speaking on their plans, Lowe said: “While Australia’s climate gives us an edge for young, vibrant whiskies, true excellence demands patience and stability. By going underground, we’re recreating the ideal conditions for world-class aged single malts—cool, consistent, and protected – right here in our volcanic-soil bush setting.
“This is our commitment to producing whiskies that can stand alongside the finest 20-and 30-year-old Scotches.
“We make a very bold and characterful new make spirit, which lends itself well to younger whiskies packed full of character. This same new make should lend itself to multi-decade whiskies with enormous complexity.”
An additional benefit of the underground warehouse will be protection from wild fires. The Kinglake region is very prone to bushfires and was devastated by Australia’s most lethal bushfire in 2010.
The current plan is for the underground site to hold around 200 barrels. All going well, there are plans to construct a second dunnage warehouse once the first barrel store hits 75% capacity.
