Saying goodbye to mashing in with our stainless steel paddle signals the end of an era. For thirteen years our grain has been stirred in by hand on brew day, majority of those by Brewer Pete. Instead, perched on the mash tun, is a geared motor powering a stainless steel agitator. After thirteen years of [...]
Hoisting the condenser and securing it into place has been the trickiest part of still assembly. As such it has been nicknamed the "Saturn V". While the condenser may look visually smaller than the pot in size, it is the heaviest piece to lift and place. This is due to the enormous lengths of tubing [...]
Not enough can be said about the skills of lateral thinking and problem solving. In life, solutions are not always apparent initially. The ability to be able to tackle and wrestle issues as they arise and come up with workable solutions is certainly a strength. Soooo... what do you do when a much larger still [...]
The words in this title certainly rang true for me on my last trip to Melbourne. Over the last 2 years I have been able to immerse myself in a different industry and have a more hands on role in our Distillery. Stepping back from a long term career in teaching and doing something so [...]
Long hours, ingenuity and sore knees have paid off! The building of an overlaying floor in preparation for the new still was completed just before the Christmas/New Year and tourist holiday season began. Our current still 'Whisky Kisses' Our long awaited still 'The Fountain of Youth' was ready for shipment just prior to Christmas. Its [...]
Some have stories to tell at the beginning... others have stories to tell at the end. My grandfather Alex Sinclair and I in Goroka in 1972. River's End bottle number one's story will now always be entwined with past and present. A little over a week ago this international award winning whisky left [...]
Kokoda... who in Australia doesn't know the significance of this place? We decided to give away bottle number one of our American Distilling Institute Best International Whisky trophy winner River's End to five adventurous blokes willing to take on the Kokoda challenge. Whisky was the link for us with these guys. James Marsh a fellow [...]
Whisky is life… and just as life weaves its own unique story, so do the whiskies created by distillers. From cask to bottle, stories of whisky continue to be woven into the lives of many... a gift to mark the birth of a child, coming of age, a wedding, or sharing a glass in remembrance [...]
Renovations overseer - Gidget checks out the new deck in 2006 Furry four legged friends in the production area whether it be winery, brewery or distillery are often silent companions in the day to day routine of life. Words don’t readily capture the impact they have on the lives and well-being of those [...]
Life is unpredictable. Have you ever looked back at your high school self and life expectations held by that beautiful vibrant youth? Oh my goodness I have. As that fresh faced sixteen year-old, I had aspirations to be a teacher or a librarian and I have been blessed to have achieved those dreams. BUT… and [...]
