Coopers Brewery has revealed plans to construct a whisky distillery as part of a larger development at its Regency Park home, which will also include a visitor centre and microbrewery.
The expansion and development will bring the total spend at the Coopers Regency Park site to nearly $400m since 1999. As well as the new distillery Coopers are also building an underground maturation facility for the Coopers whisky.
Dr Tim Cooper, Coopers Managing Director, said the investment will enable Coopers to open new markets, by entering into the whisky industry.
“This is an ambitious project which will showcase Australian beer to the world. We’re very proud of our story over the past 160 years, arising from humble beginnings to prevail as an Australian-owned and operated brewery despite wars, recessions, and takeover offers,” Dr Cooper said.
“Although we’ve been running brewery tours since 2006, this extensive development will augment and expand the guest experience, creating a lasting impression for new visitors and an ongoing connection for our loyal consumers with new tour and tasting experiences.”
He added that the expansion into whisky had been on the cards for a while.
“We have been thinking about malt whisky for some time as we see it as a natural extension to our on-site maltings and our experience in brewing and fermentation,” Dr Cooper said.
“Our goal is to achieve the highest possible level of spirit quality to match our reputation in brewing. Having our own maltings will allow us to tell the whole story from the barley grower to the whisky glass.”
We’re all going to have to have a little patience before trying the new whisky, because once the distillery has been built the whisky then has to mature for a minimum of two years in Australia.
