During a recent visit to Tasmania, Vic Cherikoff and I sat down for a tasting with Bill Lark, owner of the Lark Distillery in Hobart. The Lark Distillery has since 1989 produced premium quality spirits using Tasmania’s high quality Franklin barley and pure water.

After the first batch of single malt whisky was distilled and left to mature in oak barrels, Bill and his wife Lyn began to look at other products the Lark Distillery could manufacture. Lyn looked towards native Australian ingredients as a point of difference, choosing the local Tasmanian mountain pepperberry (Tasmania lanceolata) because of its sweet spicy flavour. Other names for pepperberry include Alpine Pepper, mountain pepper, native pepper, mountain pepperleaf, bush pepper or mountain sugar plum.

In 1996, Lyn Lark then produced their Tasmanian Bush Liqueur from the pepperberry and is considered one of the most successful liqueurs to have been developed in Australia. The Tasmanian Bush Liqueur is made by first crushing and steeping the pepperberry and then distilling them over to produce a crisp, clear spirit with no artificial colourings or flavourings. The liqueur has a warm and spicy flavour with a hint of sweetness, and its flavour is enhanced with the addition of lemon or ginger.

The Tasmanian Bush Liquor has recently been replaced by the Lark Briol (pronounced 'Bree-OL') Briol which means full of spirit. The Lark Briol has already won a few awards both here in Australia and in Europe. Those that enjoyed the The Tasmanian Bush Liquer made from the pepperberry, don’t worry its still available at the cellar door in Hobart.

The Lark Distillery also uses the native flavour of pepperberry to make their Pepperberry Vodka and Pepperberry Gin. This is a great example of how an Australian company has created a point of difference in the market place by using native Australian ingredients as a value add to their products. Their native Australian flavoured range is exported right around the world and is also Kosher certified.

If you are interested in purchasing one of the Lark Distillery products visit their website at www.larkdistillery.com.au