Swiftcrest Distillery, Mansfield: Thierry couple distilling spirits near Mt Buller

They have not only built an energy-efficient “tiny” house on their property near Mt Buller — but have also branched out into distilling vodka and gin.

Swiftcrest Distillery’s Carrie and Hank Thierry make gin and vodka at their property near Mt Buller. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Carrie and Hank Thierry always wanted to do something special on their 48ha of pristine countryside in the foothills of Mount Buller, near Mansfield.

After much research they hatched a plan to build a small farm-based distillery and set to work.

“The idea kept ticking all the boxes and we’ve just slowly worked towards it ever since,” Hank says.

Hank and wife Carrie, who both have fine arts degrees, visited a Tasmanian whisky distillery in 2010 and decided the block they had lived on, off-the-grid and chemical-free, since 2002 was the perfect place to produce spirits.

Hank, who is also a former wedding and graduation photographer, did an artisan distilling course in the US in 2014, and then the family — including daughter Belle — went to Tasmania in 2016 and learnt from whisky distillers.

Swiftcrest Distillery now sits on picturesque land where melting snow filters through an ancient granite range and rises to form a natural spring which they use in production.

“It’s the crystal-clear water and Mansfield’s unique climate that makes the spirits special.” Hank says.

They started selling the first spirits in 2019 and now produce organics-based vodka, gin and plan to also make whisky.

Hank is up at 6.30am daily to light the wood fired boiler that drives a 130-year-old steam pump that, in turn, moves the water around the distillery.

They make Organic Vanilla Bean Vodka, Alpine Spring Gin, a Sipping Vodka and Dutch Apple Pie Moonshine at their nearby distillery.

Their passion for local and organic ingredients is reflected in their spirits. They buy directly from the farmer — their biodynamic barley comes from Western Victoria, biodynamic apple juice from a farm near Shepparton, organic vanilla beans from Port Douglas and honey from their own hives. They also grow their own botanicals for future products.

The moonshine is inspired by a generations-old recipe for apple pie that Hank’s Dutch parents brought with them when they moved to Australia in the 1960s. Hank says it is best served straight — no ice.

“People ask if we have put an apple pie in the still,” Hank says.

“Distilling is really a mix between art and science and Carrie and I think we have finally found our perfect medium.”

At pre-booked spirit tastings, guests sit under a chandelier at a polished antique dining table, sipping the drops in specially designed glasses.

But the Thierrys’ property is notable not just for the distillery, but also their home.

The couple built a tiny house, 6x15m, in 2004 — long before the concept became fashionable.

The thermally efficient house is built on a waffle pod concrete slab with insulated 220mm thick concrete walls based on a Danish design.

“We imported state-of-the-art casement, argon gas-filled, double glazed windows direct from Germany that have a unique locking seal that excludes air penetration,” Hank says.

The roof is also lined with 75mm styrene and 19mm pine lining boards. “It all means we do not need any cooling in the summer and little heating in the winter and the internal temperature stays very consistent,” he says.

They have solar panels and LED lighting, and run lighting, computers, TV, toaster, electric appliances like a normal house. A backup generator automatically switches on if the power draw is over 1800w.

“We have always tried to live by our values and have also worked on a motto of progression not perfection. We still like our big screen TV and blender — we have just found a more environmentally friendly way of running them,” Hank says.

They spent a year living in a 3m caravan with Belle, then seven years of age, while they worked on the house.

“We planned to live off grid from the very start. It was one of the coldest winters ever and we even woke one morning to find the caravan covered in snow,” Carrie says.

But whenever they glimpse Mt Buller, they marvel at their fortunate life.

“Mansfield is a beautiful place, full of lovely people who genuinely care about each other and where they live – we love it here,” Hank says.

Originally published as Swiftcrest Distillery, Mansfield: Thierry couple distilling spirits near Mt Buller