Tasmanian whisky producers call for GI status

Tasmanian whisky distillers have strengthened their calls for a geographical indication status to protect the industry from counterfeiters.

Producers have said proposals for a protective geographical status for Tasmanian whisky should be tabled as soon as possible

According to ABC News, members of the fast-growing Tasmanian whisky industry have recently met to discuss proposals for the status.

The Tasmanian Whisky Producers Association want the law the specify the ingredients which must be used for a product to be called Tasmanian whisky, similar to Scotch, Bourbon, Tennessee and Irish whisk(e)y.

Distillers argued that an appellation of origin will prohibit those wanting to capitalise on Tasmanian whisky’s growing success and release products that are branded Tasmanian but do not use products sourced from the island.

“We want to make sure that if it’s a Tasmanian product, if it’s going to be called a Tasmanian product [then] it comes from Tasmania with all the produce that’s used in it coming from the island,” distiller Rex Burdon, member of the Tasmanian Whisky Producers Association, told ABC.

The group now hopes to gain support from the state government and for legislation to be drafted as soon as possible.

Last summer Tasmanian whisky producer Lark Distillery was named Telstra 2014 Best Small Business of the Year.

Lark Distillery purchased the Old Hobart Distillery, producer of Overeem whisky, in January 2014, although both companies continue to operate as separate entities.