OUR HERITAGE, OUR STORY
Alarna Doherty, Tara Founder, had a lightbulb moment that would completely change the direction of their lives. She decided she wanted to craft her own spirits and start a distillery, with a particular focus on Single Pot Still Whiskey and Gin.
Tara Distillery was the first new craft distillery to be built in the Shoalhaven for over 140 years. Alarna and Ben set out to resurrect the grass roots tradition of distilling in the Shoalhaven.
Alarna, grew up in an Australian Irish family surrounded by Irish Music and Dance in the home. It was at many an Irish session that she developed her taste for Irish Whiskey. So in 2016 when she decided to start her own distillery it was Single Pot Still and Gin she had a passion for crafting. Once through the South Coast NSW fires of 2019/2020, Alarna had completed her distillery set up in Nowra Hill. Tara Distillery represents the revival of copper pot distillation and those traditions, with Single Pot Still Whiskey, Poitín and Gin distillation commencing in June 2020.
Alarna and Ben have spent years honing their skills in the art of distillation, gaining valuable knowledge and experience from some of the most prestigious distilleries in Ireland and Scotland. They have absorbed traditions and techniques passed down through generations, while always keen to keep across the latest innovations and advancements in the industry. Their time spent overseas allowed them to witness firsthand the dedication and passion required to produce high-quality spirits. They took part in every step of the distillation process, from selecting the finest grains and botanicals to carefully monitoring the temperature and timing of each batch.
We have a combination of expertise and passion which is evident in every drop of Tara spirit, with a drive to continue this legacy of distilling excellence and innovation for years to come.
Tara Distillery is a family business run by Alarna Doherty and Ben Stephenson, and their two children Eamonn and Aela.
Alarna Doherty, Tara Founder, had a lightbulb moment that would completely change the direction of their lives. She decided she wanted to craft her own spirits and start a distillery, with a particular focus on Single Pot Still Whiskey and Gin.
Tara Distillery was the first new craft distillery to be built in the Shoalhaven for over 140 years. Alarna and Ben set out to resurrect the grass roots tradition of distilling in the Shoalhaven.
Alarna, grew up in an Australian Irish family surrounded by Irish Music and Dance in the home. It was at many an Irish session that she developed her taste for Irish Whiskey. So in 2016 when she decided to start her own distillery it was Single Pot Still and Gin she had a passion for crafting. Once through the South Coast NSW fires of 2019/2020, Alarna had completed her distillery set up in Nowra Hill. Tara Distillery represents the revival of copper pot distillation and those traditions, with Single Pot Still Whiskey, Poitín and Gin distillation commencing in June 2020.
Alarna and Ben have spent years honing their skills in the art of distillation, gaining valuable knowledge and experience from some of the most prestigious distilleries in Ireland and Scotland. They have absorbed traditions and techniques passed down through generations, while always keen to keep across the latest innovations and advancements in the industry. Their time spent overseas allowed them to witness firsthand the dedication and passion required to produce high-quality spirits. They took part in every step of the distillation process, from selecting the finest grains and botanicals to carefully monitoring the temperature and timing of each batch.
We have a combination of expertise and passion which is evident in every drop of Tara spirit, with a drive to continue this legacy of distilling excellence and innovation for years to come.
Tara Distillery is a family business run by Alarna Doherty and Ben Stephenson, and their two children Eamonn and Aela.
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What's in a name? Tara. Is our Founder's family name. It's also the place name of an archaeological complex in County Meath, Ireland. Tara is the sacred location of a hill (The Hill of Tara) near Dublin and according to tradition was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland. Historically, it was the most important centre of royal, political, and religious power with the Five Ancient Roads of Ireland all converging here. Tara was believed to be a dwelling place of the gods and an entrance to the world of eternal joy. It is a royal and sacred place, and in historic times 142 Kings are said to have reigned in the name of Tara. |
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Our Sigil shows a figure dancing and playing music and symbolises great joy and pleasure and a nod to our Irish heritage and culture. The Pure Drop. Our motto means the original, the good stuff and a euphemism for uncut whiskey and poitín, implying undiluted and unpolluted - a drop of the pure. |
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Sustainability
Agriculture For us, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We focus on supporting local agriculture and farmers by focusing on local Australian ingredients, grains, and botanicals. Water Living in the harsh Australian climate, minimising water usage is crucial - our distillery is run completely on harvested rainwater, our boiler, condensers, running water, and cutting down water is all local natural rainwater. Spent Grain After we mash in, our spent grain stays local and feeds local cattle, sheep, and pigs. Waste All left over grain, botanicals, fruits are either given as feed to cattle, pigs, or sheep or composted to regenerate our soil at Tara Distillery. |
