PHILOSOPHY

Sharing a dram brings people closer together. We love to contribute our knowledge of whisky with the like-minded. We are about connection, comradery and generosity. This is above all a journey of shared celebration and enjoyment.

We also recognise that the whisky-making process includes the magical interplay of elements beyond our control. We bring a sense of humility and adventure to our work, seeking to produce distilled wonder in a bottle. Ultimately, we are all initiates in the mysteries of the art of distillation. Amber Lane is now widely-regarded as one of Australia’s best whisky distilleries, having taken out 2 gold medals and 2 silver medals at the World Whiskies Awards 2023.

Introducing the lady of the house The Mary Rose our 3,600 litre Copper Still, with steam jacket and copper barrel insulation. Huge thanks to the artists at @burnswelding she is beautiful and one of the imperative cogs in the production of our fine Australian Single Malt Whisky.

“A lot of Australian whiskies are a little one-dimensional and unrefined. Amber Lane however is a refreshing departure from this trend. The samples I’ve enjoyed are refined, elegant and complex beyond their years.”

— Andrew, professional services, SMWS member, Wollongong

Our production ethics

Consistent high-quality mash bill that creates pleasing new make with an emphasis on the original barley together with a creamy sweetness;

Our new make is internationally renowned, having received a silver medal at the World Whisky Awards 2023.

Double-distillation using a pot still designed to maximise copper-contact, thus producing more complex flavour chains;

The very best seasoned barrels, sourced from premium producers of Spanish Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso Sherry and Kentucky Bourbon;

Maximised ageing to produce more complex flavour profiles, using larger barrels than many other Australian whisky producers (mainly 200-250L casks);

Skilled blending of individual barrels to produce consistently delicious whisky;

Non-chill-filtration in all expressions to preserve as many of the flavour-producing esters and congeners as possible; and

A conscious preference for releasing our whisky at higher alcohol strength.

DESTINY

/ ‘des.ti.ni / (noun) : that which is meant to be, a certain future

The Amber Lane story was forged in the stars. Friends and fellow amateur astronomers Rod Berry and Phil Townsend were enjoying dark rural night skies at Coonabarabran NSW during 2017 when serendipity intervened. During a daytime excursion in the region, they stumbled upon a small whisky distillery, and a dream coalesced. A sense of destiny has marked every step which has followed.

Rod freely admits that he is a “total whisky nerd”, having immersed himself in whisky knowledge and experience for many years. As a long-time member of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, an avid reader of whisky blogs and books, having undertaken several courses through the Australian Whisky Academy, and having toured numerous whisky distilleries in Australia and Scotland, Rod has a deep appreciation for the art and science of whisky production.

One of Amber Lane’s strengths is Rod’s highly attuned palate, which he attributes to the discipline of having tasted well over 1000 different expressions of whisky in the course of his whisky journey. As well as attending and hosting dozens of whisky tasting events, Rod has curated a significant personal collection of whisky from all around the world, and he enjoys dissecting every dram that he tastes.

Phil is passionate about excellence in whisky production and oversees the daily operations at the distillery. Innovation drives Phil every day, as he seeks improvements at every level of production. Nothing brings Phil greater joy that the wonderful aromas which fill the warehouse, as he can’t help but smile as he conducts the daily inspection of barrels. He feels a calling to his work, and his enthusiasm for Amber Lane spirit is infectious.

Amber Lane strives to produce refined, beautiful and delicious whisky in a traditional style which brings satisfaction and joy to all those who partake. We focus on bringing together the natural sweetness of the barley in the new make with high quality aged casks from Spain and Kentucky that bring depth and richness to every dram.