Adelaide Hills eyesore set to be transformed into craft spirit distillery at Nairne

Plans for a distillery in the Adelaide Hills would see a manufacturing facility operating seven days making craft spirits while satisfying a “demand for a sophisticated drinking environment” in the region.

Plans to transform a “derelict” eyesore “covered in graffiti” into a new craft spirit distillery is on the cards in the Adelaide Hills, complete with a cellar door.

The award-winning Tin Shed Distilling Company has submitted a development application for a new facility at Nairne, set to produce gin, whisky and rum.

Tin Shed Distillery Co has plans to build a new facility complete with a cellar door in Nairne.

The development submission is currently before the Mount Barker Distrcit Council and, if successful, would see the old freezer on the former Chapman’s Meatworks site on Princes Highway transformed into a manufacturing facility, operating seven days.

It would also satisfy a “demand for a sophisticated drinking environment” in the Adelaide Hills, according to Tin Shed Distilling’s Ian Schmidt.

Mr Schmidt said he and fellow director Vic Orlow had been distilling whisky at their current site in Welland for almost two decades – initially as Southern Coast Distillers and as Tin Shed since 2013.

“The Welland site has been good, but we have outgrown it and the site has very limited appeal as a cellar door location,” he said.

The Tin Shed Distilling Company ‘s Ian Schmidt with bottle of Iniquity. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Mr Schmidt said the Adelaide Hills location was in a state of disrepair but also a prime location.

“When we first laid eyes on it earlier this year it was derelict and covered in graffiti,” he said.

“The site overlooks Nairne and will be fitted out as a working distillery with a goal of operating, as close to carbon neutral as possible, as a truly sustainable distillery. “

He said stills would be powered by solar cells on the roof and waste heat from the condenser water would be used to provide for underfloor heating.

“The site improvements include a wastewater treatment system for liquid waste and we are actively looking for farmers to utilise our spent grain as feed for cattle,” Mr Schmidt said.

Tin Shed Distilling’s primary product is Iniquity Single Malt Whisky but also makes Requiem Rum and Piotr Vodka.

According to the development application, the facility would cater for live music on Friday and Saturday nights with a capacity of 130 people.

The new facility would see six full-time equivalent cellar staff employed, with three production employees as well as further casual production employees.