The stream on our property, fed by mountain springs is the beginning of the Molonglo River and flows to Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin, ending at the Murrumbidgee River.
The Riverbourne Wetland looking South.
Marty stirring the mash for our first run. Mashing is where the enzymes in the barley convert the starches to sugar, so that the yeast can do it's job.
Located at the head of the Molonglo River, (feeding Canberra's Lake Burley Griffen), where, fed by natural springs at an altitude of 1000 metres, Riverbourne Distillery has an environment similar to many areas of Scotland.
OUR STORY
Founded in 2015, Riverbourne Distillery is a boutique distillery based in Jingera, New South Wales, (just south of Captains Flat). Head Distiller, Martin Pye, runs a two person show, mashing, fermenting, distilling and ageing his range of boutique whiskies and rums with the utmost attention to detail, while his wife Eileen does the bottling, labelling, paperwork and distribution.
The natural spring waters, climate and mountainous environment produce spirits with a unique flavour profile distinctive to the region.
The distillery currently has over 8000 Litres of rum and whisky ageing in French and American oak casks (a minimum of 3 years) and have different representations of whisky available now with a Rye whisky just before Christmas.
Our current offers include:
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Identity #7, a dark straw in colour, floral and fruity, but full bodied and smooth.
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The Initiative #1 is a deep rich golden brown, with good viscosity. The nose is honey and gentle cinnamon, whilst the palate is sweet and rich, with honey, coconut and fruity flavours. The finish is long and warm.
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The Enigma is almost red in colour, is an explosion of fruit and toffee! Unlike the first enigma, it is non peated.
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Supremacy - Dry Peat grows with some maple syrup. Mild spice of peppercorns remains an undertone, with some dark chocolate.
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The Tribute, a rich dark sipping rum is just under four years old and matured in an ex South Australian Port Wine cask
. The Betrayal, a Rye whisky. made with local Rye and Barley malts, aromatic and balanced, an easy drinker
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It is in the blood
"An Australian Scottish lovechild."
The Australian March 1845
Joseph Pye Junior, embroiled his family in a scandal, by running an illegal distillery on his property.
“At around 7pm on the 10th March 1845, Chief Constable Ryan made a wholesale seizure, consisting of a copper still, containing about 70 gallons, and a tin repeater the same size, making the capabilities 140 gallons, in a hut, on the ground of Mr. Joseph Pye Junior at Eastern Creek, in there District of Parramatta…within a stone’s throw of his own residence. In Ryan’s words: “I went from the still-house to the defendant’s residence, which are so situated that each commands a view of the other, and saw….the defendant,(Joseph Pye Junior), and told him it was a very bad job for him to have a still”.
Joseph Pye Junior’s defence “ he knew nothing about (the distillery)”, was undone by the fact that the cart which was employed removing the spirits, was legibly inscribed with his name.
On Saturday 22 march 1845 he was sentenced by the Parramatta Bench to pay a fine of 125 pounds, for ‘illicit distillation’, or six months imprisonment in Parramatta Gaol. He chose to pay the fine.
Joseph Pye Jnr was my great grandfather’s brother, so when people ask me what made me take up distilling, I reply
“It’s in my DNA”