Hoochery Distillery

Hoochery Distillery is a farm-based microdistillery located in Kununurra, Western Australia, founded by Raymond Bernard "Spike" Dessert III. The distillery produces approximately 50,000 gallons of rum annually, and also produces gin, whiskey and liqueurs. It is the oldest continually operating legal distillery in Western Australia.[1]

Hoochery Distillery
TypePrivate
IndustryManufacturing of distilled spirits
Founded1995 (1995)
FounderRaymond Bernard Dessert III
Headquarters
Kununurra, Western Australia
,
Australia
ProductsDistilled spirits
Websitewww.hoochery.com.au

History

Raymond Bernard "Spike" Dessert III founded the farm business R.B. Dessert Seed Co. in 1986.[2] To diversify, he opened the Hoochery Distillery in 1995, producing rums.[3] Dessert died in December 2017.[4] Dessert's daughter, Kalyn Fletcher, now runs the company.

Production

Hoochery rums are produced from local sugar cane and molasses. These are vat-fermented on-site and distilled in a hand-built pot still.[5] The distillate is aged for two to 15 years in re-charred oak barrels. The distillery's flagship Ord River Rum was first sold in 1999.[2] A range of 7, 10, and 15-year rums debuted in 2018[6] named "Spike's Reserve" in honor of Dessert.[7]

Awards and recognition

In 2019, the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards created the Raymond B "Spike" Dessert III Trophy for Champion Rum in Dessert's memory. The Hoochery's Ord River Rum Single Barrel Selection won the inaugural award, as well as the gold medal for Dark Overproof Rum.[10] In April 2022, Dessert was inducted in the inaugural class of the Australian Distillers Hall of Fame.[11]

In May 2023, the distillery won the best Australian rum at industry awards.[12]

See also

References
  1. Dobihal, Leah. "Australia's Best Distilleries". Australia.com. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  2. De Kruijff, Peter (30 December 2017). "Last drinks for Spike: Hoochery legend whose rum sits on the shelves on Michelin-starred restaurants". The West Australian. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  3. Edwards, Tom (25 April 2017). "Award-winning rum distillery puts remote Kimberley on global spirit-making map". ABC News. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  4. McLennan, Leah; Mills, Vanessa; Parke, Erin (15 December 2017). "Kimberley agricultural pioneer Spike Dessert, seed farmer and rum maker, dies at 73". ABC News. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  5. Stephenson, Tristan (2020). The Curious Bartender's Guide to Rum. Ryland Peters & Small. ISBN 9781788792387. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  6. Fowler, Courtney (30 May 2018). "Release of 15-year-old vintage rum a toast to Kimberley agricultural pioneer Spike Dessert". ABC Rural. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  7. De Kruijff, Peter (22 May 2018). "Vintage rum honours life of champion". The West Australian. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  8. Dupe, Cally (11 March 2015). "Spike savours sweet success". The Western Australian. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  9. "2016 Results by Brand" (PDF). San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  10. Van Aken, Elise (26 April 2019). "Spike's spirit honoured at awards". The Kimberley Echo. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  11. Young, Andy (6 April 2022). "Four legends of Australian spirits inducted into new Hall of Fame". The Shout. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  12. "Kununurra has the best Australian rum". Kimberley Echo. 24 May 2023.
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