Expansion is just the tonic for Whiskery
ONE of the region’s most popular distilleries is preparing to expand.
The Whiskery, which produces the award-winning Teddy & The Fox gin, has unveiled plans to increase production of both gin and whisky, in a planning application submitted to the City of Greater Geelong.
The Drysdale business has applied to build a 284sq m barrel warehouse on its Portarlington Rd property.
A letter submitted with the application revealed the distillery’s “amazing success” since opening in early 2018, which has led to a decision to expand production to push the popular products interstate and overseas.
“Bottle sales have been increasing at a rapid pace from online sales, cellar door sales and wholesale orders to local and regional bars, bottle shops, restaurants and clubs,” the letter noted.
“We have therefore decided to expand the wholesale production of both gin and whisky to keep up with the current and anticipated demand for our premium spirits.
“The construction of the warehouse will allow our business to grow and enable us to service our already rapidly growing customer base not only in our local region but also Australia-wide. It will also be a first step in our goal to export our products internationally.”
Russell Watson, who owns and operates the business with his wife Lorelle Warren, said the pair had always planned on expanding the business, even before their first product — Teddy & The Fox gin — exploded in popularity.
“There’s always, from day one, been expansion plans,” he said. “Everything we’ve done here we’ve done in the old original buildings which were existing. The distillery we developed out of an old shed on the property, and we were always going to run out of space.”