Bakery Hill Distillery, Australia's oldest mainland whisky distillery, is proud to unveil its first-ever Private Whisky Barrel Program — an exclusive opportunity for whisky enthusiasts to craft a truly personalised barrel experience.
This innovative program is set to offer the most customisable whisky journey in the country, allowing individuals to select from three barrel options and four unique spirit types, ensuring a one-of-a-kind creation.
With decades of expertise and a rich heritage behind every bottle, this unique program invites connoisseurs to immerse themselves in the art of whisky-making like never before.
- Larger size casks (30L) – deeper richer maturation, more whisky, less evaporation
- Multiple Barrel types
- Multiple whisky types
- Australia’s best distilled spirit
The Spirit Options
Bakery Hill is feted around the world for the quality and consistency of our single malt whiskies. The centrepiece of this whisky is the spirit, created through the processes of barley growing, malting, milling, brewing, and finally double distilling through Steve – our legendary copper pot still.
We are very excited to be able to present to you four options for the base spirit going into your barrel. This is where this Private Barrel program separates itself from the rest of the pack
- New Make Spirit (Unpeated)
Our classic clean, rich and sweet new make spirit, just distilled and ready for barrelling. The very essence of the Bakery Hill DNA - New Make Spirit (Peated)
For the smoky Peated fans out there. Sweet, salty, smoky and funky, our peated new make provides an amazing creamy mouthfeel and unrivalled complexity - Partially Aged Whisky (Unpeated)
Our Classic whisky aged for around 3-4 years in American Oak ex-bourbon cask provides the ultimate canvass for you to experiment with your chosen finishing private cask. Rich in honeycomb, vanilla, fresh apples and pears - Partially Aged Whisky (Peated)
For max flavour with a huge amount of character, our 3-4 year old Peated Whisky matured in an American Oak ex-bourbon cask has it all. Using “highland” style peat and produced at around 20 ppm, the peat is a complimentary flavour note to the whisky without overpowering.
The Oak Options
Again why limit yourself to only one type of barrel. We have worked closely with our barrel supplier and cooperage partner and are pleased to offer three 30L barrel options for you to craft your own Bakery Hill whisky legacy.
*Note - Larger format cask sizes may also be available upon request. Please contact info@bakeryhill.com to enquire
1
American Oak Ex-Bourbon
For the traditionalists, this barrel type will provide a classic, consistent, clean, fresh and sweet flavour profile which will work with every type of spirit available. The closest option to a traditional and renowned Bakery Hill whisky. These barrels are heavily charred to promote a spirit forward profile.
2
European Oak Ex-Spanish Sherry (Oloroso)
For fans of fortified wine cask matured whiskies, sweet, decadent and imparting an amazingly deep colour palate on your whisky. This cask option is perfect for finishing partially aged whisky, These barrels are uncharred (but have received a light toast) and will impart barrel and sherry notes into your Bakery Hill whisky
3
American Oak Ex-Rum
For something completely different, we have sourced some amazing re-coopered ex rum casks, which could provide a unique full maturation option for new make spirit or create a fun secondary “finishing” cask for semi matured whisky. These barrels are heavily charred and promote spirit forward profile whilst also providing some light rum influence.
Personalisation
We are pleased to offer the opportunity for you to brand or personalise your private cask with embossing from the cooperage at no extra cost.
Maturation
The casks will be filled with Bakery Hill Distillery new make whisky spirit or 3-4 years old partially matured whisky, at around 65% abv and depending on the barrel, spirit and climactic conditions will take approximately 2-3 years to mature.
The barrels will mature in our distillery barrel warehouse at 411 Macaulay Rd, Kensington, VIC, 3031, under the watchful eyes of our distillery team.
A 30L barrel may lose, via natural evaporation through the wood, approximately 15% in spirit volume year on year due to the local climate in Melbourne. This is known as the ‘Angels Share’ and could be more or less depending on specific climatic factors such as temperature and humidity for each year that the spirit is matured. On average, after 2 years, a 30L barrel may have remaining spirit of approximately 20-25 litres and after 3yrs approximately 15-20 litres. This is an estimate and could potentially be more or less depending on the Angels!
Bottling
The matured whisky will be filled into our Arianne 500ml glass bottles with a brown wood top stopper with a gold embossed logo and a black tamper proof seal.
Our recommendation would be to bottle the spirit at 46-52% alcohol by volume for maximum flavour. This would mean that depending on maturation time, Angels Share and final spirit strength, somewhere between 40-60 bottles could be delivered upon maturation completion. The final number of bottles will vary for each barrel.
We can work with you prior to decanting/bottling day to determine the best bottling abv for your experience. A unique Bakery Hill Private Cask label will be applied and you will have the chance to name your whisky, and/or include a small message which will be hand written on each label.
The product can be delivered to the customer or collected from the distillery any time after 2 years from the fill date up to 3 years. It is highly recommended that the full maturation time and subsequent bottling and delivery date is decided by the customer in consultation with the Bakery Hill distillery team. If required a longer maturation can be negotiated with the distillery.
The Private Cask Onsite Experience
Actually be part of the distillery experience, with the opportunity to visit the distillery to:
- Fill your cask, receive your certificate of ownership, and take home a 50ml mini of the filling spirit
- Visit your cask after 1 year to check in on the progress and take home a 50ml mini of the partially matured spirit
- Upon final maturation (mutually agreed between yourself and the Bakery Hill team) be part of the decanting, bottling and labelling process
If you are unable to attend the distillery for any or all of these milestones, arrangements can be made to have distillery tasting and progress notes emailed, and 50ml mini bottles available for collection or posted to you.
Alternatively when your whisky is mature we can organise a courier on your behalf (and at additional cost) to deliver your bottles (and even your barrel) to your nominated Australian address or by appointment you can collect directly from the distillery.
Timeline
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between smaller and larger casks, and why is angel's share greater from a smaller cask?
Smaller barrels mature whiskey faster because there's more liquid-to-wood contact ratio compared to larger casks. Our 50-liter casks mature whiskey we're happy to release in about 5 years, while 200-liter casks take around 8 years. The downside is higher evaporation - we lose about 10% per year from 50-liter casks versus much less from larger ones. With our 30-liter private casks, you can expect around 15% angel's share per year, so after two years you're looking at 25-30% evaporation total.
Where do you source your peat and how do you use it?
We use New Zealand peated malt for our private barrel program, which we've found much fresher than Scottish peat that takes months to arrive by boat. Australian peat has high eucalyptus content that creates very strong flavors and requires costly treatment due to carcinogenic properties, so it's not commercially viable. The New Zealand peat gives us consistent quality and can be delivered within a week of ordering.
What spirit options are available for filling the casks?
You can choose from four different spirit options:
- New Make Classic (unpeated)
- New Make Peated
- Aged Classic (3-4 year old unpeated whiskey from American oak ex-bourbon casks)
- Aged Peated (3-4 year old peated whiskey from American oak ex-bourbon casks)
With the aged options, you can use your private cask as a finishing cask to add different flavor profiles.
What cask types can I choose from?
We offer three cask types:
- American Oak Ex-Bourbon - Heavily charred, gives a traditional Bakery Hill style whiskey that's spirit-forward
- American Oak Ex-Rum - Heavily charred, offers versatility for full maturation or finishing with Caribbean rum influence
- European Oak Ex-Sherry - Lightly toasted Oloroso style, more savory than sweet, perfect for finishing aged whiskey
Do you char the barrels every time?
The charring is done at the cooperage when they break down larger 200-225 liter casks and re-cooper them to 30-liter size. American oak casks (bourbon and rum) are heavily charred to create a barrier between spirit and wood for more spirit-forward flavors. The European oak sherry cask is lightly toasted rather than charred to encourage more oak and previous contents influence.
What can I expect from your peated whiskey profile?
Our peated whiskey uses highland-style peat rather than coastal peat, so you'll get sweeter, forestry notes instead of salty, medicinal, or iodine flavors. It's a mid-level peat at around 20 parts per million (compared to heavily peated Scotch whiskies at 40+ ppm), so the peat complements rather than dominates the flavor profile.
How does the bottling strength decision work and when is it made?
We fill casks at around 65% ABV. At the two-year mark, we'll invite you to try your whiskey at different strengths - cask strength, 55%, and 46% - so you can decide what works best. For groups, we sometimes need to bottle at a strength that ensures everyone gets their desired number of bottles. The decision is made just before bottling, and we can accommodate different preferences.
Can I get a combination of cask strength and reduced strength bottles?
Absolutely! We use special private barrel labels where we handwrite the alcohol strength and personalization details. You could bottle 10 bottles at cask strength and the remainder at 46%, all on the same day. We simply add filtered water to bring down the bottling strength for the portion you want reduced.
Do you monitor the angel's share after 12 months?
Yes, we invite you to visit after 12 months to try your cask and see how it's progressing. We'll measure the angel's share as part of our own learning process since this is our first time working with 30-liter casks. We can provide updates on the status and what to expect going forward.
Is this offer open to anyone, or just existing customers?
It's open to everyone! While we prefer getting these into the hands of Bakery Hill supporters and enthusiasts, anyone can participate. We've had businesses looking for corporate gifts, clubs and societies, and family groups all get involved. If you know someone interested, absolutely pass on the information.
Can I use my own existing cask for this program?
Yes! Many people have acquired small casks from various sources. We'll need to check the condition and what preparation might be needed, but you'd only pay for the spirit (around $800 less than the full program price). We'll mature it in our bonded warehouse and provide the same labeling, bottling, and personalization experience.
What's the timeline from purchase to receiving the finished bottles?
After securing your cask, we'll arrange the cooperage work and personalization (expecting mid to late June for the first batch). You'll then come in to fill your cask and start the 2-3 year maturation process. We check in at 12 months and 2 years, with bottling happening around the 2-3 year mark depending on your spirit choice and preferences.
Can I pay in installments?
Yes! You can pay 50% upfront to secure your cask and get the personalization done, then pay the final 50% just prior to bottling. This is different from most private cask programs that require full payment upfront. We're also happy to accept full payment upfront if you prefer.
What happens during the cask filling experience?
For new make spirits, we'll take the spirit directly from our spirit tank and pour it into your cask while you're present. For aged whiskey options, we'll have 3-4 barrels ready for you to taste and choose which specific barrel you'd like transferred to your private cask. You'll take home a small sample to see how it develops over time.
How often can I visit and sample my cask during maturation?
We invite you to visit after 12 months to try your cask and take home samples. Then at the 2-year mark, we do another check-in. For aged spirit options, we might start monitoring more frequently (every 6 months) to prevent over-oaking. For interstate customers, we provide regular email updates and phone support.
What's included in the personalization and bottling experience?
Your cask will have your company name, family name, or logo printed by the cooperage. At bottling, you'll receive special private barrel labels where we handwrite the alcohol strength, recipient details, and any special messages. We commemorate the experience with photos and provide behind-the-scenes access throughout the process.
How many bottles will I get from a 30-liter cask?
After 2-3 years and accounting for angel's share, you can expect 40-60 bottles depending on your chosen bottling strength. At cask strength (60-65%), you'll get around 45 bottles of 500ml. At 46% ABV, you'll get around 65 bottles of 500ml.
Can groups participate in this program together?
Absolutely! We work with groups of up to 20 people. Sometimes reaching consensus on decisions like bottling strength can be challenging with larger groups, but we'll work with you to find solutions that keep everyone happy. Many clubs, societies, and business groups have already joined the program.
Details
BARREL: 30L – yours to keep or refill (at discounted
package price)
MATURATION PERIOD: Between 2 and 3 years
NO. BOTTLES: Approximately 40 – 60 x 500ml @ 46-55%
alc/vol
Pricing
30L new make spirit price @ 65% abv - $7000
30L 3-4 year old whisky price @ 65% abv - $8000
Plus
30L American Oak Ex-Bourbon or Ex-Rum Cask - $500
or
Plus
30L European Oak Ex-Sherry Cask - $850
*All prices inclusive of GST
Inclusions
- Your own private 30L oak cask (Personalised/branded and yours to keep after the experience or fill again)
- Certificate of ownership
- Yearly visit and sample of your spirit
- Labels, bottles, cork stoppers
- Personalised (handwritten) labels, featuring all the details of the your whisky journey with space for a small message
- Photos of your visit to be shared with you at the completion of your journey
- Insurance for your product while it is on our property maturing.
- All relevant taxes paid (GST, Excise etc)
Exclusions
Freight & Freight Insurance (however we can organise on your behalf and ship bottled product upon payment of invoice)
