Corio Distillery, located just outside Geelong, Victoria, has a rich and storied history that spans nearly a century. The distillery was established in the 1920s by the Distillers Company Limited, now known as Diageo, the world’s largest spirits company. It was a time when there was a worldwide shortage of Scotch whisky, and the Corio Distillery aimed to meet the demand by producing Australian whisky and gin.

The original distillery building, which still stands today, was officially opened in March 1929 by the chairman and managing director of the Distillers Co-Operation Pty Ltd, Mr. William H. Ross. The distillery quickly gained momentum, with its first product being Burnett’s Dry Gin, a local rendition of an imported British gin. Production volumes soared, and by the end of 1929, the distillery was producing Corio Whiskey at an impressive rate of 500,000 gallons per year.

The whiskey, however, needed time to mature and gain its flavor profile. It wasn’t until 1933/1934 that Corio Whiskey made its debut on the market, having rested in oak casks for a minimum of five years. The whiskey was well-received and shared similarities with Scotch whisky, establishing itself as Corio Whiskey.

As the years passed, the Corio Distillery experienced remarkable growth. By 1938, it was producing around 12 million gallons of Corio Whiskey and an additional 5 million gallons of gin. This made Corio a dominant force in the Australian whiskey trade, accounting for two-thirds of the market and half of the gin market. The Corio Distillery became known as the largest distillery in the southern hemisphere.

In 1956, the distillery made a significant introduction with the launch of Corio’s 5 Star whiskey. Backed by a mammoth marketing campaign, Corio 5 Star quickly gained popularity, selling an astounding 8.5 million bottles in Australia and overseas within its first four years.

However, as the 1970s and 80s rolled in, challenges emerged for Corio Distillery. Australian excise rates increased, and the perception of Corio whiskey as an inferior local product began to take hold. The encroachment of the petroleum industry around the distillery also added to the unfavorable circumstances. Eventually, in 1983, Corio Distillery closed its doors.

Despite its closure, the legacy of Corio Distillery endures. While the brand may have had a reputation as an affordable and mass-produced whisky, tasting the bottlings from that era reveals their past popularity and unique character. Corio Distillery played a pivotal role in Australia’s whisky history, demonstrating that whisky could be produced on a large scale in the country. Today, the focus in the whisky industry has shifted to quality, and the story of Corio Distillery serves as a reminder of the industry’s evolution and the recognition that great whisky can be crafted outside of Scotland.