World-Class Whisky
From the beginning, we set our sights not on hype, but on history.
Bring award-winning whisky to an under supplied market
The whisky production process is lengthy and complex. At Coburns, our single malt whisky can take up to 5 years to mature.
For many decades this long process has created an under-supplied whisky market.
This high demand is what allows us to offer a stable investment, with fixed returns and buy back assurance.
Be a part of bringing premium whisky to the world while enjoying high returns
We recently won 5 Double Golds at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, positioning Coburns as a world-class whisky producer.
This allows you to feel confident that you’re investing in a high-quality and high-value whisky when you become a barrel owner with Coburns Barrel Store.
Invest in our internationally recognised whisky
Over 90 international awards earned on the world stage.
2026
4 x Silver – World Whiskies Awards
10 x Bronze – World Whiskies Awards
2024
4 x Liquid Gold – Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible
5 x Gold – San Francisco World Spirits Competition
16 x Silver – San Francisco World Spirits Competition
2 x Bronze – San Francisco World Spirits Competition
2023
Finalist Best Australian Whisky – San Francisco World Spirits Competition
5 x Double Gold – San Francisco World Spirits Competition
2 x Gold – San Francisco World Spirits Competition
3 x Silver – San Francisco World Spirits Competition
5 x Bronze – San Francisco World Spirits Competition
2022
Best Cask Strength Whisky – Royal Australian Spirits Awards
3 x Gold – Royal Australian Spirits Awards
25 x Silver – Royal Australian Spirits Awards
11 x Bronze – Royal Australian Spirits Awards
Tasting notes from professional whisky reviewers
Dried fruit, pronounced earthy notes, and dark, almost burnt, caramel on the nose. Sweet on the palate with slightly medicinal/phenolic flavours and dried fruit notes. Long, sweet, dried fruit finish with a persistent and pronounced pepperiness.
Coburns Hermes Single Malt Australian Whisky
San Francisco World Spirits Competition Judging Panel
How our whisky is made:
New make spirit made from Australian malted barley is aged in barrels that we source from all over the world.
We store the barrels for you, with the peace of mind that each barrel is insured, ATO monitored and registered on the Personal Properties Securities Register.
Over time, the new make spirit matures into single malt whisky and grows in value.
Every barrel is sampled and tested. As maturation approaches, we begin to sample more regularly (every 6-12 months) until the whisky has reached the perfect flavour profile.
Once the whisky has matured, we buy your barrel of whisky back at purchase price plus return.
We then bottle and sell the barrel ready for retail. You have the option to keep and bottle some of the barrel for yourself at the end.
Whisky Barrel Ownership Tiers
1 × 225L Barrel
3 × 225L Barrels
6 × 225L Barrels
11 × 225L Barrels
Frequently asked questions
What is buy-back assurance?
We will buy your whisky back once we have determined that your barrel has reached maturation (no earlier than 3 years and no later than 5 years). We will pay out the purchase price + the compounded return.
When will you buy-back the barrel?
Within 3 to 5 years, once the barrel has reached maturation.
Who stores the barrel?
We store the barrels in our ATO monitored bond store. The location of the bond store will be disclosed upon purchase of your barrels. The Australian Taxation Office can conduct an audit at any point without providing notice to make sure our records are up to date and barrels are being managed and maintained properly. We cannot relocate or remove your barrel from the bond store without requesting permission from the ATO.
Are there any ongoing costs?
No.
Can I try the whisky before I buy a barrel?
You can experience Coburns whisky at home through the Coburns Trunk Club. Join and purchase bottles from our online whisky store: coburns.co.
You are also welcome to visit the Barrel Store for a private tour and tasting, simply contact Brad to arrange a time.
How do I know that Coburns will honour the buy back?
The quick answer is that the whisky in the barrel is worth about double the buy-back price. We have wholesale opportunities to supply our spirit to international and national markets each wanting all of the whisky we can produce.
Who determines when the barrels come to maturation?
Every barrel goes through sampling and testing. When a barrel is getting closer to maturation (between 3 to 5 years) we will then test it every 6-12 months until we determine that it has reached the perfect flavour profile.
Can I keep some of my whisky?
All barrels come with a buy-back contract attached. This contract allows you to keep up to half the whisky in the barrel and the distillery will buy the remainder back. For example: If you keep 10% of the matured whisky, we will buy the remaining 90% of the whisky, and pay you 90% of the buy-back amount on a pro rata basis. or If you keep 50%, we will buy the remaining 50% of the whisky and pay you 50% of the buy-back amount. Note: You do not have to keep any whisky at the end if this is just an investment for you.
What happens if my barrel leaks?
It is rare, but if your barrel were to leak, we have several options to rectify the issue at no additional cost to you. We can either fix the barrel and top it up with spirit from one of our barrels, replace it with one of our barrels or we could make an insurance claim.
How is this investment protected?
We have a number of protections in place:
- Every barrel is registered through a national register managed by the federal government called the Personal Property Securities Register
- Your barrel is stored in an ATO monitored bond store, which means we can not relocate your barrel without permission from the ATO and they can audit us at any point
- Your barrels are fully insured
- Our contract offers fixed, compounding returns
- The legally binding buy back contract means you will be cashed out within 3 to 5 years without having to find a buyer yourself.
Is there a limit on how many barrels I can buy?
Minimum investment is a single barrel purchase. There is no maximum limit you can own.
How do I know I'm investing in high-quality whisky?
Don’t take our word for it! We’ve won awards from the world’s most prestigious competitions recognising Coburns as producing ultra-premium whisky.
