Waubs Harbour has just touched down in one of the great whisky capitals of the world, Tokyo, Japan.

The Tasmanian whisky will officially launch at the Niseko Premium Food & Beverage Showcase in Hokkaido, in partnership with Austrade Tokyo on 12 November 2024.

Waubs Harbour is owned by husband and wife Tim and Bec Polmear in partnership with Tim’s brother, Rob Polmear. Rob’s previous experience includes being Head of Production for Lark Distillery and Head Distiller of Overeem Whisky.

“Over the past couple of years our whisky has really grown in demand, often selling out within an hour of release, so to now be stocked in Japan in partnership with someone who believes in our whisky as much as we do, is very exciting,” said co-founder Tim Polmear.

The export partnership came about after a Japanese guest who, unbeknownst to the Waubs Harbour team, was a distributor of premium goods in Japan, visited the distillery and toured the facility before approaching them about the partnership.

“My experience in the industry meant we knew not only what we wanted to make but how we wanted to make it and we’ve now brought that to life,” said Rob Polmear.

After purchasing a shuttered oyster hatchery and neighbouring old abalone farm buildings for their maritime maturation environment, the whisky distillery now spans across four buildings on the edge of the ocean at the gulch in Bicheno, reminiscent of Scottish maritime distilleries such as Laphroig and Talisker. 

The distillery’s name, Waubs Harbour, is a nod to the former town name of Bicheno.

“Bicheno was originally named Waubs Harbour, after a Tasmanian Aboriginal woman, Wauba Debar, honoured for her bravery as ‘heroine of the sea’ after swimming out and saving two drowning men who she was enslaved to.” Bec Polmear said.

“We’re really proud to be able to tell the tale of the town we get to call home, its people and its history.”

Another instant sell-out for Waubs Harbour