Distillery planned for Margaret River

The award-winning Great Southern Distilling Company will expand to Margaret River in the coming months with plans under way to build a distillery in the tourism hotspot.

The proposed site of the new outlet is at the corner of Carters Road and Bussell Highway, approaching Margaret River from the north.

A custom-built distillery and cellar door will be established at the new location which owner Cameron Syme expects will be open in March.

Albany’s Great Southern Distilling Company was established in 2004 and Mr Syme said the second site was a natural part of the company’s expansion.

“Albany is the best place to make whisky but Margaret River has a much bigger tourism market,” he said.

“We have had a number of people coming through and people are just saying to us they can’t wait for us to open over there.”

Mr Syme said the majority of production would be carried out in Albany.

“(We will still be) keeping our roots in Albany but expanding our retail presence and some production over in Margaret River as well,” he said. Mr Syme said the Margaret River business community had been supportive of the expansion plans.

“They are welcoming us with open arms, which is fantastic,” he said.

“We have been called a front runner of world whisky by one of the most respected whisky journalists.

“I guess it’s really positive for us to be thinking we can continue to grow and expand our whisky business.”

Augusta-Margaret River Tourism Association marketing manager Simon Latchford said it would add another element to the world-renowned wine region.

“Our whole region is built on produce with wine, food, beer and now we will have to add whisky to that list,” he said.