Waubs Harbour

Waubs' marketing emphasis on being a truly maritime malt is not without justification. Perched on the rocks in Bicheno on Tasmania's East Coast, the distillery sits directly on the edge of the Tasman Sea. It's believed to be the world’s closest distillery to the ocean, surpassing Scotland's island equivalents which are located off relatively sheltered bays or coves. Even Old Pulteney which sells itself as 'The Maritime Malt' sits 400 metres inland. About two-and-a-half hours drive north-east of Hobart and based in an old oyster hatchery, Waubs Harbour currently has hundreds of casks maturing in five salt-laden bond stores with a cooling system run entirely by the ocean. The name is a nod to the former town of Bicheno and honours Wauba Debar, an Aboriginal woman known for her bravery. Co-founders Tim and Bec Polmear in partnership with Tim's brother, Rob Polmear come with a wealth of knowledge. Rob was formerly Head Distiller for Overeem Whisky and Head of Production for Lark Distillery and Tim and Bec's previous experience was in e-commerce. The distillery was officially opened by Tasmania Premier, Jeremy Rockliffe. Spirit began flowing from the stills in July 2019 and the inaugural release launched in April 2023.