Timboon Railway Shed Distillery

Timboon Railway Shed Distillery

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Posted 2013-06-15 by Ian Gillfollow
It seems that good whiskey has had a place in Victoria's western district history since about 1880 and that a good deal of that history involved the Delaney family.



The Delaney's were Irish immigrants who arrived in the Warnambool district in early 1855 and later took up a selection at Nirranda, the first settlers in an area which later became known as Delaney's Corner.

Throughout the 1890's Tom Delaney gained notoriety for his boot-leg whiskey, reportedly producing as much as 100 gallons a week of his high quality 'Mountain Dew'.



For years the Delaney's were at the forefront of illegal whiskey production reputedly labeling their product with the official State logo and selling throughout the south west.

When both demand and production reached unacceptable levels the Victorian Government set out to close the illegal stills. The man they chose for the job was Detective John Mitchell Christie, a larger than life figure, a champion sculler, heavyweight boxing champion and a man personally selected by HRH, Alfred the Duke of Edinburgh to be his bodyguard whilst on tour in Australia and New Zealand.


Christie became obsessed with the illegal stills and capturing Tom Delaney. With the help of a friend he disguised himself as a travelling tinker and gained entry to the homes of Delaney's fellow distillers, all the while building up a portfolio of evidence.

On 5th May 1894 Christie and three other Police bailed up Tom Delaney and his off-sider James Love in a bush hut. As Christie attempted to arrest them Delaney and Love literally burst through the wall of the hut and escaped into the bush, leaving their still to the Police.



Love was captured a couple of days later but Tom Delaney remained on the run for another month before giving himself up.
So Christie had successfully ended the illicit whiskey trade but not before Tom Delaney and his 'Mountain Dew" had become firmly ingrained in local folklore.

It's hard to know how much, if any influence, these stories had on the establishment of . It's far more likely the availability of quality barley, pure soft water and a suitable climate had a bit more to do with it.

Today Timboon whiskey is distilled from single malted barley and aged in on oak barrels for between two and twenty-five years. Diluted with limestone filtered water it's finally bottled at 40% alcohol/volume.



The converted railway shed in the heart of Timboon is Victoria's only boutique distillery and as well as its first class whiskey produces Coffee Cream, Strawberry Schnapps and Vodka. It is also home to a restaurant/café and outlet for a wide range of mouth watering local produce including wine and cheese, smoked Eel, ice-cream, honey, smoked meats and smallgoods.
But the whiskey is what this place is all about. Visitors can watch the distillation process and tasting are almost obligatory - well it would be a shame not to wouldn't it?

#victoria
#escape_the_city
#breweries
#attractions
%wnmelbourne
130313 - 2023-06-13 06:39:45

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