Lark Distilling Co. officially opened the doors to its Pontville Distillery last week on the site of the former Shene Estate. The unveiling follows last year’s $40 million acquisition of the Shene distilling business founded by Anne and David Kernke in 2016.
Pontville will become Lark’s third working distillery in Tasmania alongside its Cambridge and Bothwell (Nant) sites. The new distillery, which also has an onsite cooperage, will increase Lark’s overall production capacity by 193,000 litres per annum. With the acquisition of Shene stocks, Lark now has 1.8 million litres of maturing whisky across its bond stores.
Lark Distilling Co.
According to a February ASX briefing issued to investors, an entirely new distillery will be constructed on the Pontville site designed by Melbourne-based March Studio architects. The distillery will be capable of producing 1 million litres of spirit per annum and is expected to cost $13 million when commissioned in 2023.
Lark will also appoint a new CEO in coming months tasked with exporting the brand to a global audience after the sudden and dramatic resignation of Geoff Bainbridge. Former CEO Bainbridge resigned in February after a scandalous series of articles were published by The Australian, starting with a video appearing to show Bainbridge smoking methamphetamine.
In an utterly bizarre turn of events, Bainbridge subsequently claimed that the video was part of an extortion attempt in an exclusive interview published by Nine’s The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald newspapers. These claims and the articles supporting them were later retracted by Nine after further investigations by The Australian cast serious doubt on Bainbridge’s story.
Lark’s share price dropped 21% after Bainbridge’s departure but has since rebounded slightly.
The scandal was the last thing the company would’ve wanted at the start of its 30 year anniversary. In coming months, numerous whisky releases and activations are planned as the 30th anniversary of the Lark distilling business approaches in May.
Lark’s latest release, Chinotto Cask II – Lark Distilling Co.
In a press release, Dan Knight, Lark’s head of hospitality, says the company is proud of the role its played in growing the Tasmanian whisky industry over the last three decades.
‘We’re very proud of the role Lark has played in shaping this industry, and excited that Pontville will represent a new experience unlike any other in the Apple Isle. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or newly curious, this incredible space will be the perfect jumping-off point for your exploration into local whisky.’
At the Pontville site, the Lark ‘Fuse’ whisky experience will be offered, giving visitors the chance to create their own personally blended bottle of malt whisky from casks in Lark’s bond store. The Fuse experience is available by appointment and costs $499 per person.
The Still, Hobart – Lark Distilling Co.
This latest opening follows the unveiling of Lark’s new Hobart bar The Still in December, located up the road from the longstanding Lark Cellar Door and Whisky Bar on Davey Street.
Tours of the new Lark Distillery at Pontville will now run daily and cost $99 per person.