SPIRITED IN THE VALLEY (Limeburners & Giniversity in the Valley

Spirited in the Valley

Fancy a spot of gin and whisky tasting but don’t have time to journey down south? Well, I have a tempting answer for you thanks to an exciting new addition to the Swan Valley with the June 2022 opening of the Limeburners & Giniversity in the Valley. The Great Southern Distilling Company was the first Western Australian distiller to legally launch their Limeburners single malt whisky in 2008.

After their success in Albany in 2015, the Margaret River Distilling Company opened – home to Giniversity where potions are concocted as diligent students create their own bespoke gins. Their third distillery, located in the Porongurups, is home to the 'Tiger Snake and Dugite whiskey' lines. Founded by Cameron Syme in 2004, this impressive operation has earned too many awards to list here. In 2022, Cameron was inducted into the Hall of Fame for both the Australian Whisky Awards and the Australian Distillers Association. It made sense for Cameron to expand into WA’s oldest wine region teeming with dozens of wineries, breweries, cideries, distilleries and world-class cuisine.

Showcasing a wide array of whiskies and gins, the new 200-seat venue with a restaurant, bar, cellar door and function venue builds on this success. Upon arrival, guests are treated to a rich blue and white colour scheme playing nicely against the parquetry flooring. With nods to the venue’s origins, the Marri timber with stitching detail on the bar originates from the original bar from the Carilley Estate. This was a great opportunity to upcyle a beautiful piece of wood. However, my eye is drawn to the views of vineyards and the lush landscape cascading down to the babbling river. It’s easy to understand why this once was a popular cellar door and wedding venue and Cameron says,“I’ve wanted to share my products in the city for a while now, but we had to find the right space. Carilley Estate had the perfect location and structure to work with.”

Nestled amongst so many operators who have been toiling away for decades, how does a newbie infiltrate themselves into such a tight-knit community entrenched in tradition, while still setting themselves apart? Firstly, the restaurant is completely gluten-free – an exciting concept for coeliacs, including Jamin’s and Cameron’s daughters who were the inspiration behind this innovation. Head chef Trevor McGill has refined the menu to showcase the region with shared dishes like the Distillers Platter, featuring marinated octopus, sardines on toast, pan-fried chorizo and the mango and chilli marinated and roasted chicken wings. Small plates include Chorizo and Flat Breads and the Pear and Pumpkin Salad. Larger plates include Pulled Pork or Veggie Burgers and pizza, and you’ll find the Whisky Business pizza with chorizo and whisky bacon, which mirrors from the Margaret River menu. “Our new venue will appeal to coeliacs even if they just want to enjoy a glass of local wine or cocktails, which are obviously gluten-free since they’re made from grapes and not grains,” Jamin adds. Working with local producers such as John Kosovich Wines, Talijancich Wines and Windy Creek Wines, they’ll use their barrels to infuse the flavours into their whisky or gin to impart a unique flavour. Other local operators to come on board are the Tiny Tea Shop and the gluten-free bakery – Champagne & Gumboots. They’re only just getting started in the Valley. Stay tuned for plenty of other exciting plans yet to be launched including, the Giniversity blending classes, Limeburners masterclasses, the possibility of adding a small fourth distillery and producing seasonal releases in line with local winery releases. By Carmen Jenner

Limeburners & Giniversity in the Valley 45 Hyem Road, Herne Hill Ph: (08) 9296 6190 www.distillery.com.au

Win a weekend getaway at Lobster Lodge valued at $1100

Enjoy a two-night stay for four adults at Lobster Lodge. Jump on board our boat tour and head out to Cervantes Island and swim with the Australian sea lions. Then come back to the Lobster Shack and enjoy a Lobster Seafood Platter and drink while soaking up the views of the bay. For more information go to www.lobsterlodge.com.au