Waves, Whiskey, and Wild Tasmania: The Waubs Harbour Story

Nestled on the rugged East Coast of Tasmania, Waubs Harbour Distillery emerges as a maritime whiskey revelation that challenges everything you thought you knew about Tasmanian spirits. Founded by Tim and Bec Polmear, with distiller (and Tim's brother) Rob bringing scientific precision and deep industry experience, this distillery is a testament to the power of provenance and passion. Situated in a former oyster hatchery literally meters from the wild Southern Ocean, Waubs Harbour crafts a single malt that captures the essence of its environment - salt-kissed, windswept, and unapologetically Tasmanian.

The distillery's commitment to quality over quantity is evident in every aspect of their production. Using 100% Tasmanian barley, custom-cultivated yeasts, and an on-site cooperage, Waubs Harbour represents a new wave of craft distilleries that prioritize terroir and technique over mass production. Their unique maritime maturation process, where barrels breathe the pure oceanic air, creates a whiskey profile that is both subtle and complex - with subtle saline notes that hint at the wild environment of its birth. Their experimental approach, from locally sourced peat to custom-built smoking equipment, demonstrates a willingness to push boundaries while respecting traditional craft.

Awards from the World Whiskey Awards and Spirits Masters have already begun to put Waubs Harbour on the global whiskey map, but for Tim and his team, it's never been about accolades. It's about capturing a moment, a place, a lifestyle - the maritime spirit of Tasmania distilled into every carefully crafted bottle. With a production model that focuses on quality, a commitment to local ingredients, and a deep love for their craft, Waubs Harbour is more than a distillery - it's a love letter to Tasmania, written in the language of whiskey.

Thank you to Tim for entering the Whiskey Ring!

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS

Baxus is the world's leading collectible spirits marketplace, with user-friendly options for buyers, sellers, and collectors looking to vault their collections. Use my link below to visit the BAXUS.CO website and sign up!

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The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires.

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Waubs Harbor Distillery

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Our First Venture To South Dakota

Black Fork Farms' roots trace back to Gordon Omen's great-great-grandfather, Poppy J Omen, who immigrated from Germany and farmed in Southwest Minnesota. The distillery operates on the same land where Gordon grew up, now primarily dedicated to distilling operations. Gordon's inspiration came during a trip to Budapest, where he experienced a field-to-glass bourbon that sparked his vision for creating something similar using his family's agricultural expertise.

While not a control state, South Dakota has its own share of challenges - distribution, limited visitor traffic, and some of the coldest weather in the lower 48. Tyler joins me to talk through these challenges and how BlackFork Farms is overcoming them.

It's a small operation, but boy that gift pack was beautiful, and they clearly care about the grain and cask - and that's all that matters.

Thank you to Tyler for entering the Whiskey Ring!

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS

Baxus is the world's leading collectible spirits marketplace, with user-friendly options for buyers, sellers, and collectors looking to vault their collections. Use my link below to visit the BAXUS.CO website and sign up!

• BAXUS Website
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• BAXUS on Twitter/X
• BAXUS on LinkedIn

_________________________________________________________

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring

The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires.

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website.

BlackFork Farms

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A Weirdly Timed Episode...

Let's get the awkwardness out of the way - I had the pleasure of interviewing Mel Maddox, now-former Master Blender for Old Elk, on May 2nd. A few days later, it was announced that Old Elk had been acquired by Middle West Spirits (a previous guest!) and, subsequently, all workings at their Fort Collins, Colorado location were ceasing. This included laying off all production staff, including Mel.

This was still a wonderful conversation in which I learned about Old Elk, but my favorite part was learning more about Mel. The way she looks at whiskey when creating a blend is synesthetic, hard to describe to those who haven't experienced what color something tastes like or the what shape a mashbill makes in your mind. It's a beautiful talent (my version is seeing sounds in color) that is at once intangible and singular.

Long story short...I don't know what the next steps are for Old Elk, or for Mel, but I wish them both the best. I think Old Elk was putting out the best stuff it ever had, and clearly her talents were on full display in blending and finishing. We as whiskey enthusiasts can only hope her next role continues to rely on those talents.

Thank you to Mel for entering the Whiskey Ring!

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS

Baxus is the world's leading collectible spirits marketplace, with user-friendly options for buyers, sellers, and collectors looking to vault their collections. Use my link below to visit the BAXUS.CO website and sign up!

• BAXUS Website
• BAXUS on Instagram
• BAXUS on Facebook
• BAXUS on Twitter/X
• BAXUS on LinkedIn

_________________________________________________________

If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring

The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires.

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website.

Old Elk Distillery

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