On this week’s show, we're joined by Hellyers Road Distillery’s wonderful marketing manager, Beth Bicknell, to talk everything Hellyers and Tasmanian whisky and catch up on the week’s news. We cover Hellyers’ recent deal with DMG Fine Wine, plus the release of the American Oak 23 Year Old Single Cask 3114.11 – Hellyers Road’s oldest ever whisky release and one of Australia’s longest aged single malts.

It’s a special time for Hellyers Road [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/distillery/hellyers-road-distillery], as next year the distillery celebrates their 30th anniversary and will release a series of exceptional whiskies to mark the occasion.

Editor Luke McCarthy was in Hobart last week to present a chat at the Tasmanian Whisky & Spirits Association’s (TWSA) annual conference, talking all things drinks media and The Full Measure. While there, he witnessed another piece of good news for Hellyers, as their CEO Derek Charge was named president of the TWSA, also one of Australia’s longest running state-based organisations, taking over from Killara Distillery’s Kristy Lark who has done an amazing job at the helm.

Staying in Tassie, we touch on Lark Distilling’s latest Christmas Cask release [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/news/4276/lark-distillerys-christmas-cask-returns-for-2026] – yes, the festive season is rapidly approaching – and we also explore a new collaboration gin from Dutch Rules Distilling Co and Melbourne’s Bar Selecta, whose Joey Tai stars in our new Bartender's Cut showcase [https://www.instagram.com/p/DfI8LkST-OG/] created in partnership with St Agnes Distillery.

There's some good news on the personal front, with Forgotten Spirits, the book Luke wrote with Spirits Victoria Association, picking up a gong [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/news/4275/forgotten-spirits-book-wins-at-the-victorian-community-history-awards] at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria’s community history awards, while we also unveil the latest venue to be showcased in our Bar Shout series with Nil Desperandum [https://nildesperandum.com.au/].

Start of segments:

 * 0:18 – The Gospel Whiskey's [https://www.thegospelwhiskey.com/] Postcards From The Past
 * 1:08 – Hellyers Road's latest news & anniversary plans
 * 13:34 – Bar Shout: Rude Boy [https://www.rudeboyhobart.com.au/]
 * 14:49 – The Week's News

If you’d like to find out more about working with The Full Measure, feel free to drop Craig a line at craig@thefullmeasure.com.au [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/news/4269/craig@thefullmeasure.com.au].

The Full Measure Podcast: Hellyers Road’s Next Chapter | Lark’s Christmas Cask | Forgotten Spirits

This special edition of The Full Measure Podcast was recorded at Grainstock 2026, set in the heart of the Riverina at the beginning of the grain harvest, featuring three days of farm and facility tours, panels and presentations, networking, fundraising and fun.

The 2026 gathering, pulled together by the team at Voyager Craft Malt, was another mind-bending experience, bringing together farmers, maltsters, suppliers, brewers, distillers and bakers.

First up in the Lallemand-sponsored studio, we’re joined by Voyager and Grainstock founder Stu Whytcross for a chat about the event and an update on the Voyager Craft Malt [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/business/voyager-craft-malt] project more broadly. Following this, we were incredibly lucky to be joined by Matthew Evans, the renowned author, chef, critic and creator of The Gourmet Farmer TV show.

We finish the show with Pete Mackintosh from Drip Rock Distillery, the soon-to-launch whisky producer located in Colo Heights north west of Sydney in the Greater Blue Mountains region, and a catch-up with Lallemand's Richard Chamberlin.

Start of segments:
 * 0:00 – Intro
 * 1:13 – Stu Whytcross, Voyager Craft Malt
 * 16:16 – The Gospel's [https://www.thegospelwhiskey.com/] Postcards From The Past
 * 17:04 – Matthew Evans, Fat Pig Farm [https://fatpig.farm/]
 * 37:04 – Nil Desperandum Rum [https://nildesperandum.com.au/]
 * 38:03 – Pete Mackintosh, Drip Rock Distillery [https://www.driprockdistillery.com.au/]
 * 51:19 – CIBD 2027 Registrations [https://cibd2027.com.au/]
 * 52:22 – Richard Chamblerin, Lallemand Brewing [https://www.lallemandbrewing.com/]

If you’d like to find out more about working with The Full Measure, feel free to drop Craig a line at craig@thefullmeasure.com.au.

Grainstock 2026 Distilled

Ahead of the biggest weekend of their (admittedly brief) existence to date – a two-day celebration [https://www.tanospirits.com/visit/events/international-shochu-awamori-day-festival-2026-10-31?utm_source=the+full+measure&utm_medium=mrec&utm_campaign=october+2026+web+banner] coinciding with World Shochu Day – we invited one half of Northcote-based Tano Spirits [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/distillery/tano-distillery-and-shochu-bar], Kevin Hamilton, to join us on our weekly news show.

As well as previewing a weekend full of street art, music, gaming, new drinks, a sake and shochu masterclass, and more, Kevin serves up a taste of the Tano mission to bring an ever-expanding lineup of locally-made Japanese spirits to Australia. We keep things pretty brief, however, as we’re keen to have him and co-founder Fletcher Anderson on for an deep dive into their obsession before too long.

He also helps us cast an eye over the week’s other big stories, including one we were very excited to break – Maidenii’s move into a new home [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/news/4266/exclusive-maidenii-finds-a-new-home-in-woodend-after-bushfire-devastation] after they lost almost everything in January’s bushfires – and the first fruits from Archie Rose's new partnership [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/news/4264/archie-rose-and-co-owner-chris-hemsworth-unveil-their-new-core-range] with Chris Hemsworth, after the actor became a co-owner in August.

We're excited to kick off a new series this week too: Bartender's Cut has been created in partnership with St Agnes Distillery [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/distillery/st-agnes-distillery] and features some of Australia's leading bartenders showcasing cocktails made with the award-winning Renmark producer's brandy.

Start of segments:

 * 1:17 – Tano Spirits & International Shochu & Awamori Day
 * 16:20 – Bartender's Cut ft Joey Tai, Bar Selecta [https://www.barselecta.co/]
 * 17:23 – The Week's News

If you’d like to find out more about working with The Full Measure, feel free to drop Craig a line at craig@thefullmeasure.com.au.

The Full Measure Podcast: Tano's World | Maidenii's Rebirth | Thor's Whisky

“Make it easier for the bona fide producers to make a living and then illegal alcohol doesn’t pop up.”

In a spot of serendipitous timing, The Full Measure team was at Grainstock – an industry gathering hosted by Voyager Craft Malt [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/business/voyager-craft-malt] in the Riverina – along with Australian Distillers Association CEO Kylie Lethbridge the week after the announcement that she would be stepping down from the role at the end of October.

It allowed us to welcome Kylie on to this edition of the weekly news pod to discuss the reasons behind her decision, as well as cast an eye over her 12 months in the role. Fresh from her joint presentation with Independent Brewers Association CEO Sabrina Kunz, we discuss a wide range of topics, including the ADA’s recent progress and future goals, government advocacy, technical standards and illicit alcohol.

Luke and James also look at some of the week’s other highlights, including the launch of the second sustainably-minded "Goofy Barrel" whisky from Hang 10 Distillery [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/distillery/hang-10-distillery], which makes use of surplus bread, another vets-supporting venture [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/event/14246/whipper-snapper-veterans-club-bbq-and-whiskey-ft-the-launch-of-the-pilgrim] from Whipper Snapper, Luke’s recent presentation to the CIBD, and the latest, delicious Rum Consortium [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/tasting/celebrate-qld-rum-day-with-the-rum-consortium-2026-bottling] release.

We'll have more from Grainstock next week's extended edition too, when we hear from event founder Stu Whytcross, Gourmet Farmer Matthew Evans, and Pete Mackintosh from soon-to-launch Drip Rock Distillery.

Start of segments:

 * 1:26 – Kylie Lethbridge
 * 24:42 – The Week's News  

If you’d like to find out more about working with The Full Measure, feel free to drop Craig a line at craig@thefullmeasure.com.au [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/news/4249/craig@thefullmeasure.com.au].

The Full Measure Podcast: Kylie Lethbridge | Goofy Whisky | Queensland In A Bottle

“It’s shown people that you can actually make beautiful whisky anywhere in the world.”

Heather Tillott is one of the Australian whisky industry’s most accomplished blenders and distillers. She’s also one of our best orators, with a way of speaking about whisky that captures its beauty and complexity while still making it fun and accessible.

That’s no small feat, considering her monumental role as director of whisky creation for Tasmania’s world-beating Sullivans Cove [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/distillery/sullivans-cove-distillery]. In our chat, recorded during the 2026 Australian Distillers Association Conference in Adelaide, Heather takes us through the Sullivans Cove story, from the distillery’s origins with Robert Hosken in Hobart, through the brand’s evolution under Patrick Maguire, to its watershed World Whiskies Awards triumph in 2014 – and how that win marked a turning point for lesser-known whisky regions around the world.

We also trace Heather’s journey from the NSW South Coast, where she grew up, through her training as a winemaker to her eventual move to Tasmania and Sullivans Cove. Her deep technical and sensory knowledge is on show throughout, but her hilarious Macallan anecdote is a real showstopper too.

We'd love to hear from you too, so if you've got any feedback on the show, have guests you'd love to hear from or topics you'd like us to explore, send us an email at cheers@thefullmeasure.com.au.

Start of segments:
 * 0:25 – The Full Measure Distillery Specials [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/directory]
 * 1:18 – Heather Tillott Part 1
 * 24:30 – Heather Tillott Part 2
 * 40:15 – CIBD 2027 Registrations [https://cibd2027.com.au/]
 * 41:16 – Heather Tillott Part 3

To find out more about partnering with The Full Measure, get in touch with craig@thefullmeasure.com.au.

Holding Time To Ransom: Heather Tillott & The Sullivans Cove Story

This week on The Full Measure Podcast, we’re excited to welcome Dervilla McGowan and Sebastian Reaburn, the co-founders of Anther Spirits [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/distillery/anther-geelong-distillery]. Our timing couldn’t be better, as Anther celebrated their tenth anniversary over the weekend at their Geelong distillery and cellar door.

In the chat, we cover their extensive backgrounds in hospitality and bars, their progression to distilling and consulting, and look back on the highlights from the first decade of Anther Spirits.

We also discuss our recently-published Australian agave spirits feature article, which has been going off on socials, drawing in readers from across Australia and around the world. The timing is exquisite, with Sebastian and Dervilla about to release their own Wild Agave spirit, so they talk us through the arduous process they undertook to make it, and discuss the wider development of the Australian agave spirit scene.

Plus, we touch upon a big week of industry news, including the impending departures of Lark’s Chris Thomson and Australian Distillers Association CEO Kylie Lethbridge, the launch of The Gospel’s Bonded Rye Whiskey [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/news/4246/the-gospel-release-bonded-rye-whiskey-an-australian-first-bottled-in-bond], and the upcoming Queensland Rum Day [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/event/14219/queensland-rum-day-2026] celebrations.

And mid-show, we have our second Bar Shout, in which we celebrate another of the country's great bars in partnership with Nil Desperandum [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/distillery/nil-desperandum], the Sunshine Coast-based producers of award-winning rums.

Start of segments:
 * 1:22 – Dervilla & Sebastian on Anther's tenth, Australian gin, and community events
 * 19:57 – Bar Shout: Shaman [https://shamanbar.com.au/], Brisbane
 * 21:21 – Dervilla & Sebastian on agave, plus Luke's news in brief

If you’d like to find out more about working with The Full Measure, feel free to drop Craig a line at craig@thefullmeasure.com.au.

The Full Measure Podcast: Anther At 10 | Wild Agave | Bonded Rye | Lark Exit

Ahead of the 2026 edition of Whisky by the Bay, the spectacular celebration of Australian spirits taking place at The Whiskery – home of Bellarine Distillery [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/distillery/bellarine-distillery-the-whiskery] – on October 24, we’re delighted to have co-owner and head distiller Craig Michael join us as guest host on our Weekly News podcast.

As well as discovering what they’ve got lined up for the festival, we touch upon the ethos driving the distillery founded by Russ Watson and the late Lorelle Warren, their approach to making award-winning whisky and gin, and their love of community.

Craig and Luke also reflect on our recent feature on additives in spirits [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/news/4230/whats-in-your-australian-spirit] – complete with an interview with Sebastian Reaburn of Anther Spirits – while chatting about the charms of Fleurieu Distillery’s [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/distillery/fleurieu-distillery] whiskies, Papa Salt Gin [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/distilling-company/papa-salt-distillery] and maritime gins as a whole.

Start of segments:
 * 0:09 – Nil Desperandum [https://nildesperandum.com.au/] promo
 * 1:07 – Luke & Craig: Bellarine Distillery & Whisky By The Bay
 * 20:54 – The Full Measure Directory [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/directory] Discounts
 * 21:51 – Luke & Craig: Additives In Spirits, Fleurieu Distillery & Papa Salt

If you’d like to find out more about working with The Full Measure, feel free to drop Craig a line at craig@thefullmeasure.com.au.

The Full Measure Podcast: Bellarine's Whisky By The Bay | Additives | Fleurieu | Papa Salt

“I said I have opinions, right?”

There are lives half-lived. And then there are lives lived fully enough to last several lifetimes. And James Young’s definitely belongs in the latter category.

With the caveat that this list is not comprehensive, prior to entering the world of distilling, he’d coached the Lithuanian women’s hockey team, led netball and swimming associations in WA, amassed multiple degrees, and worked in graphic design and advertising.

Since entering distilling under the Old Young’s banner – after abandoning an earlier plan to make gin in Gingin – he’s picked up many of the world’s most prestigious trophies, drawn up plans for a Cathedral of Gin in the Swan Valley, been in and out of administration following a wildly successful crowdfund, and has been releasing a new gin every month for more than five years and counting.

As such, we didn’t struggle for topics to discuss when we sat down with James at the Australian Distillers Conference in Adelaide earlier in the year – and neither did this thoughtful, charismatic, heart-on-his-sleeve guest disappoint.

One small note: the interview was recorded in an office space kindly donated to The Full Measure (before we’d even launched) by the conference hosts, so sound and vision isn’t quite up to the standard of our usual studio.

To find out more about partnering with The Full Measure, contact craig@thefullmeasure.com.au.

Old Young's And The Evolution Of Australian Gin

We’re lucky once again to welcome a special guest on the podcast this week: Miranda Lidgerwood, brand and communications manager for Sullivans Cove, joins us in the studio.  

In the chat, we touch on the remarkable story behind Tasmania’s world-beating single malt whisky, and Miranda's recent travels around the country and across the Asia-Pacific region, spreading the good word on Sullivans Cove.  

We were especially keen to have her join us to discuss the distillery’s just-announced push into select export markets, including Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK and Europe, which we covered in depth last week.   

We also discussed last week’s Australian Gin Awards results, where Blackwattle Distilling Co’s Dry Sydney Gin took home the coveted Best in Show title. Staying on the gin train, we chatted about our recent tasting of Australian maritime-influenced gins, and then touched on the revered St Agnes Distillery, one of the latest distilleries to sign up to our directory.

The Full Measure Podcast: Sullivans Abroad | Australian Gin Awards | St Agnes | VineHop

We always intended to invite guests to join us every now and then on the weekly editions of The Full Measure Podcast, but we didn’t expect it would happen this soon. However, we're delighted it has, with Fred Siggins heading into the studio for a chat about his new cocktail book [https://www.thefullmeasure.com.au/news/4218/fred-siggins-equal-parts-cocktails-reminds-us-theres-beauty-in-simplicity], Equal Parts Cocktails: The Simple Ratio for Spectacular Drinks, and the week’s news.

As well as dipping a toe into his 25-years-and-counting career spanning pretty much every facet of the drinks industry (but leaving plenty to discuss for future occasions) and hearing more about the book, Fred and Luke look back at the winners from this year’s Sydney Royal Distilled Spirits Show [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/news/4216/marionette-and-reckless-win-best-in-show-trophies-at-sydney-royal], the discussions sparked by our recent feature on the funkier side of rum – soon to be accompanied by a Tasting feature on some of Australia’s finest examples – and the story of The Gospel [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/distillery/the-gospel-whiskey], one of the distilleries already signed up to our Directory.

We’re also delighted to launch Bar Shout, a celebration of the very best bars across Australia in partnership with Nil Desperandum [https://thefullmeasure.com.au/distillery/nil-desperandum]. Luke selected the first winner, Bar Bellamy [https://barbellamy.com/] in Carlton, and you’ll find out why in the middle of this week’s episode.

If you've got a favourite bar you believe is worthy of a shoutout next time around, we’d love to hear from you. Either shoot us an email or tell us about your favourite bar here [https://www.thefullmeasure.com.au/nil-desperandum-bar-shout].

Please enjoy the show, feel free to like, subscribe, rate and review, and if you’ve got any feedback, we’d love to hear from you too.

If you’d like to find out more about working with The Full Measure, feel free to drop Craig a line at craig@thefullmeasure.com.au.

Cover image by Kristoffer Paulsen.

The Full Measure Podcast