Nant Barrel Holdings investor fears bankruptcy will leave her high and dry

AN investment with the Nant Barrel Holdings has left a bitter taste in the mouth of Ouse farmer Pip Allwright.

2013 Bushfires (Bush Fires) Burnt out farmer Pip Allwright of Jones River Ellendale in their cherry orchard The bird nets have been damaged by the fire

AN investment with the Nant Barrel Holdings has left a bitter taste in the mouth of Ouse farmer Pip Allwright.

Ms Allwright about five years ago was one of many locals to invest in a $5000 barrel of the award-winning Nant whisky produced at Bothwell.

The investment in Nant Barrel Holdings was supposed to either return 9.55 per cent a year or a barrel of matured whisky available after five or six years for a special occasion.

Pip Allwright is still waiting for the Nant barrel she invested in.

“We still have got a barrel supposedly and I have asked for it but got fobbed off,” she told the Mercury yesterday.

“They said [founder] Keith Batt would be down soon, but I have heard nothing.”

Her story comes after ­reports interstate suggest that the founder of the Nant group of businesses Keith Batt is filing for bankruptcy with total debts of $16 million.

A spokesman for the group told Fairfax: “Keith’s personal finances and the companies in the Nant Group are entirely separate.”

It is also reported the company behind his former property empire, Queensland Property Partners, is being ­liquidated.

The report has raised concern about the future of Nant, which employs about 10 to 15 people in Tasmania.

Nant could not be con­tacted for comment yesterday.

Ms Allwright said the invest­ment had not returned any interest, which was due to be paid at the end when the whisky was sold.

“We wanted the whisky ­itself, because it would make a nice present or be something special for a wedding,” she said.

Ms Allwright said she had been sent a bottle of whisky.

“It was very, very nice, and I think they sell for about $350,” she said.

She said it was worrying for the farmers around Bothwell who had bought barrels.

“Everyone was supportive and pleased to see investment in the area, and the council did a lot with signage,” she said.

Mr Batt is no longer a director of the companies but Nant Barrel Holdings and Nant Distilling company are run by Mr Batt’s wife, Margaret Joyce Letizia.

Nant recently won five gold medals, a silver and the Asia-­Pacific Spirit of the Year at the China Wine and Spirit Awards.