BA2840/321: Distiller Margaret Lyons filling bottles with rum at the Hoochery Distillery, Kununurra, 13 April 2017

Summary

The Hoochery Distillery was built on a farm just outside Kununurra in 1995 by farmer Raymond (Spike) Dessert III. Spike had arrived from California in 1972 to develop his seed business in the rich Ord River soils. Built from local timber, the Hoochery's showroom is a traditional old American country style saloon bar complete with piano and chandeliers. It is a family owned and operated business managed by Spike's daughter Kalyn Fletcher. The distiller is Margaret Lyons aided by Luke Parker. Ord River Rum is made from local sugar cane, Wet Season rainwater and yeast that is all vat fermented, pot distilled, aged in oak barrels and hand bottled.They age the rum in 300 litre oak barrels which naturally colours and flavours the rum.