Wild Spirits, Crafted With Aussie Heart
From farm to glass, discover North Queensland’s award-winning distillery.
Our Story Begins Here
Mt Uncle Distillery was founded in 2001 on the Atherton Tablelands. Volcanic soil, tropical climate and clean spring water create the ideal conditions for building flavour from the ground up.
We are a house of spirits driven by process. Every decision from fermentation through to the final cut is made with intent. It is how we capture the character of this region and translate it into the glass.
This has never been about following tradition for the sake of it. It is about understanding it, respecting it, and pushing it forward with an Australian point of view.
The Man Behind The Mountain
Mt Uncle is the work of Mark Watkins, founder and head distiller.
His approach is simple. Build flavour early. Make disciplined decisions in the still. Let time do its job.
Mark was also responsible for bringing Blue Weber agave into Australia, laying the foundation for a category that did not exist here. That same mindset continues to shape everything we do.
“I didn’t build this to follow rules. I built it to make the spirits I wanted to drink.”
The Mt Uncle Way
Land. Legacy. Time
Everything starts with raw material.
North Queensland sugarcane, native botanicals and estate-grown agave form the base of our spirits. These inputs are not incidental. They define how flavour is built.
Fermentation is where that flavour begins. Distillation is where it is refined, using our 1500L Arnold Holstein copper pot still. Every cut is deliberate.
Maturation is treated as a variable. In a tropical environment, time behaves differently. We manage that intensity through cask selection, fill strength and warehouse conditions.
The result is a range of spirits that are structured, expressive and grounded in place.
Built Through Process. Proven In The Glass.
Over time, Mt Uncle spirits have found their way into bars, retailers and homes across Australia, and onto the global stage through international competition.
Recognition matters because it validates the work. But it is not the goal.
The goal is simple. Create spirits that stand up in the glass, whether neat or in a cocktail.
A Few Bragging Rights
Our work has been recognised at the highest level, including:
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World’s Best Sugarcane Spirit, World Rum Awards 2024
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World’s Best Pot Still Rum, FNQ Rum Co. Iridium
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IWSC Gold 98 points, Iridium X Agave Cask
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Best Australian Navy Strength Gin, Botanic Australis Navy
These are not marketing lines. They are third party proof under global scrutiny.
Meet The Family
Each brand within Mt Uncle is built on the same foundation of process, precision and regional identity, expressed in different ways.
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Experience It At The Distillery
The Distillery Door in Walkamin is where everything comes together.
Taste the range, see the process up close and understand how each decision shapes what ends up in the glass. It is a working distillery, not a showroom.
Visit us
Mt Uncle Distillery
1819 Chewko Road, Walkamin QLD
Opening hours
Monday to Sunday
12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
More than a tasting. A direct connection to how the spirits are made.
