MPs toast growing whisky industry

VICTORIA’S distilling industry has exploded in popularity, with one distillery in Drysdale among those to have rolled out the barrel in recent years.

The state had no distillery producers 15 years ago but now has about 150 spread across Victoria, employing more than 1,000 workers.

The Victorian government has supported the growth of the sector through its $10 million Distillery Door Program, which offers grants of up to $20,000 to increase business capability and efficiency through investment and improvements in on-site infrastructure; or up to $70,000 to establish, enhance, or promote a distillery door.

One recipient is Bellarine Distillery, established in 2015 on a former chicken farm by couple Lorelle and Russ Watson.

The distillery, which produces a range of award-winning gins and whiskys, is the first on the Bellarine Peninsula and the first to open in the Geelong region since the closure of the Corio Distillery in the 1980s.

Bellarine Distillery used a grant from the Distillery Door Program to create The Whiskery – a rustic cellar door space created from an old farm shed at the site – and Treasurer Tim Pallas, Bellarine MP Alison Marchant and Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney visited the facility on Friday last week.

“We greatly appreciate the funding provided by the Victorian government through the Distillery Door Program,” Mrs Warren said.

“It has allowed us to enhance the visitor experience and continue to provide employment opportunities for up to 34 employees across our distillery door, distillery and marketing teams.”

Mr Pallas congratulated the distillery on its success.

“Victorian-made drinks are some of the best in the world and the growth in the local distilling sector has been nothing short of phenomenal,” he said.

“Bellatrine Distillery is a fantastic local success story delivering significant benefits in terms of jobs and visitation that flow through to the wider community,” Ms Marchant added.

The 2023/24 State Budget, released last month, extends the Distillery Door Program by another $10 million.

“The Distillery Door Program has played an important role in helping businesses like the Bellarine Distillery thrive – new funding in the budget will ensure the industry continues to go from strength to strength,” Ms Tierney said.