Whipper Snapper Distillery: Perth Whisky, Upshot and Visitor Guide
Whipper Snapper brings Western Australian grain into an urban distillery in East Perth. Its best-known name is Upshot, a corn-led whiskey shaped by local crops and American-oak maturation, while the wider portfolio explores other grains and cask histories. The business grew from conversations between two brothers-in-law into a working distillery with a café, cellar door and guided experiences.
Information checked on 27 October 2026.
Whipper Snapper’s East Perth distillery. Producer photograph credited to Jessica Wyld in its image filename.
At a glance
At a glance | Whipper Snapper Distillery |
|---|---|
Country and region | Australia; Western Australia |
Location | 139 Kensington Street, East Perth WA 6004 |
Licensed operator | Whipper Snapper Distillery Ltd |
Co-founders | Jimmy McKeown and Alasdair Malloch |
Opened | 2014 |
Master distiller | Jimmy McKeown |
Main whisky families | Corn whiskey, single malt and other grain-led releases |
Still | Custom copper hybrid combining pot and column elements |
Visitor access | Café, cellar door, guided tours, masterclasses and flights |
In this guide
AI summary: key points
Whipper Snapper opened in East Perth in 2014, following an idea developed by Jimmy McKeown and Alasdair Malloch.
Upshot uses Western Australian corn, malted barley and wheat. The current Single Malt follows a different recipe and matures in former Upshot casks.
The site offers tours, masterclasses and tasting flights near Claisebrook Station. Check current bookings for the experience you want.
Summarise this guide with AI
An East Perth project with international teachers
The founders trace the idea to 2010. Brothers-in-law Jimmy McKeown and Alasdair Malloch wanted a whiskey that reflected Western Australia’s grain-growing landscape. They travelled to learn from distillers in the United States and Scotland before opening their East Perth operation in 2014.
The producer credits Colorado distiller Tom Cooper with early mentoring, equipment contacts and the foundation of the Upshot recipe. Frank McHardy, associated with Springbank and Bushmills, brought advice on malt distilling. The current team page identifies Jimmy as master distiller and director, and Alasdair as managing director. These are operating roles; no private shareholding structure is assumed.
City premises, Wheatbelt connections
The address is 139 Kensington Street, East Perth. The distillery’s grain story reaches beyond the city into Western Australia’s agricultural districts: Jimmy grew up in Narrogin, and the Single Malt uses barley from that Wheatbelt area. This gives a city visit a direct connection to the crops behind the whisky.
For visitors, the producer describes the premises as roughly a five-minute walk from Claisebrook Station. Its café and cellar door share the working site, allowing a visit to combine the place, the production story and a tasting without requiring a remote distillery itinerary.
Whole-grain fermentation and a hybrid still
The process begins with locally grown corn, wheat, rye and malted barley, selected according to the recipe. The milled grain becomes a full-grain mash, which is transferred into open-top fermenters. House yeast works over several days before the wash reaches a custom copper still combining pot and column elements.
Maturation needs to be read release by release. The core corn whiskey uses virgin American white oak, while the Single Malt reuses casks that previously held Upshot. Those choices provide a useful comparison of grain and cask influence. The producer gives minimum maturation periods for current releases, which should not be converted into exact age statements.
Upshot and the changing grain-led range
Upshot Original is currently listed at 43%. Its grain recipe is 72% corn, 14% malted barley and 14% wheat, all grown in Western Australia. The minimum maturation period is two years. It remains the clearest starting point for understanding the producer’s corn-led identity.
The current Single Malt is listed at 45%, using locally grown barley custom-malted for the distillery and at least four years in ex-Upshot casks. Older bottles and photographs include a 48% edition, so compare the exact strength when researching it. The wider producer range also includes Cask Strength, Bandit, Wheat and Rye; each deserves its own specification rather than inheriting Upshot’s details.
Whipper Snapper Upshot Original 43% (700ml) Whipper Snapper Upshot 9 Years, Barrel #16
The tasting descriptions below paraphrase the producer’s notes. They are not Whisky Clan tasting scores.
Whipper Snapper Upshot Original 43% (700ml)
Style: Australian corn whiskey
Age: Minimum two years of maturation; no fixed age statement.
Strength: 43% ABV
Cask or maturation: Virgin American white oak; single barrel.
The producer’s original corn-led release, made entirely from Western Australian grains.
Grain recipe: 72% corn, 14% malted barley, 14% wheat
Nose: Producer notes suggest cedar, caramelised sugar and vanilla.
Palate: Producer notes describe a creamy texture, butterscotch and nutmeg.
Finish: Producer notes include maple sweetness and darker toffee.
Whipper Snapper Upshot 9 Years, Barrel #16
Style: Australian corn whiskey; archived release
Age: Nine years.
Strength: Exact strength not independently confirmed for Barrel #16.
Cask or maturation: A single-barrel release identified by the producer as Barrel #16.
The archive records 160 bottles and marks the release sold out. The photograph shows the nine-year bottle and its presentation box.
Nose: Producer notes combine toasted oak with toffee and cherry-cola character.
Palate: Producer notes emphasise vanilla, caramel and maple.
Finish: Producer notes suggest dark fruit and leather.
Limited releases and precisely named awards
The producer archive records an Upshot nine-year release from Barrel #16, limited to 160 bottles and now marked sold out. It provides a documented example of longer maturation within the distillery’s history. The archive photograph is included below, with the confirmed age and outturn kept separate from details that remain unclear.
Upshot Red Corn won World’s Best Corn at the 2023 World Whiskies Awards. The standard Upshot entry later received Best Australian Corn in 2025. Those are different awards attached to named releases, so the 2023 title should not be presented as a universal award for every bottle carrying the Upshot name.
Choosing a visit or tasting experience
The current booking page offers a Journey Tour lasting about 45 minutes with three tastings. The more detailed Whiskey Masterclass lasts about 90 minutes and includes a cocktail, six tastings and a tour. Non-drinker booking options are listed for the guided experiences.
Self-paced flights provide another route, with four tastings and a choice of selections. The café and cellar door make a shorter stop possible, but a tour is a separate booking. Check the latest timetable, availability and accessibility information when planning, especially if a particular release or experience is the main reason for travelling.
Other distilleries in Western Australia and wider Australia
These guides are suggestions for further reading. Check locations, travel distances and current bookings when planning a visit.
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Frequently asked questions
Who founded Whipper Snapper?
Jimmy McKeown and Alasdair Malloch, who are brothers-in-law. The distillery opened in East Perth in 2014.
What grains are in Upshot Original?
The producer specifies 72% corn, 14% malted barley and 14% wheat, all grown in Western Australia.
Is the current Single Malt the same as an older 48% bottle?
The current product page lists 45%. Older 48% bottles are separate editions, so check the exact label before comparing specifications or awards.
Does minimum maturation mean an exact age statement?
No. The producer gives minimum periods for Upshot and Single Malt. Those statements do not assign one precise age to every bottle.
Can I book a distillery tour?
Yes. Journey Tours and Whiskey Masterclasses are listed, alongside tasting flights. Use the current booking page to check sessions and non-drinker options.
Sources and image credits
View sources and image credits
Featured image: Whipper Snapper Distillery / Jessica Wyld.
Whipper Snapper Upshot Original 43% (700ml) image: Whipper Snapper Distillery.
Whipper Snapper Upshot 9 Years, Barrel #16 image: Whipper Snapper Distillery.
Research checked on 27 October 2026. Tour arrangements, releases and availability can change.
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