Handcrafted in the historic town of Yackandandah, using 100% Australian grains, Backwoods Distilling Co. takes inspiration from its bushland backyard to produce small batch Australian Single Malt and Rye whiskies, alongside a range of gins.
Backwoods Distilling Co. was founded by Leigh and Bree Attwood in 2017. Both raised in Myrtleford, they returned to the region with their young family after years of city-living, working and travelling. A love of whisky, science and craftiness soon evolved into a dream to open a distillery. Backwoods Distilling Co. is the culmination of this dream.
"We are passionate about creating high quality spirits that vividly capture the flavours of Victoriaâs High Country, and we aim to put Victoria on the map as a premier craft spirits destination," says Bree.
The distillery operation was set up on the Attwoodâs property until February 2021, when Backwoods moved to a new site in the Yackandandah township. Backwoods Distillery Door, located at the Yack Station Precinct, is a destination for visitors to see production first-hand, experience tastings and purchase bottles.
The tasting room sits alongside the production area, so while youâre tasting the whisky and gin, you can also enjoy the aroma of a ferment bubbling away and the trickle of the spirit running from one of the stills (affectionately named Stillvester and Stillvia!)
Visiting the tasting room is also the best way to get your hands on a bottle of Backwoodsâ internationally acclaimed spirits. Recent awards include medals at the World Whiskies Awards, London Spirits Competition and Australian Distilled Spirits Awards. The small-batch whisky releases sell out in record time, with travellers visiting from all over the country to secure a bottle.
You can visit Backwoods Distillery Door from Thursday â Monday each week. Itâs a must-do activity when visiting the High Country.