Tasmanian whisky pioneer LARK Distilling Co. has launched a major activation at Sydney Airport’s Heinemann duty-free store, running throughout May and June 2026, showcasing its newly released 700ml Tasmanian single malt collection — including three expressions available exclusively through global travel retail. The brand has rocketed from #17 to #3 in the alcohol category at Heinemann since the activation launched.
The collection features three travel-exclusive Tasmanian single malt expressions alongside Devil’s Storm No.183 and Ruby Abyss No.285, which recently won “World’s Best Design” and “Best Range Design” at the World Whiskies Awards 2026 in London. The launch marks a defining moment for Australian whisky on the global travel retail stage — and a must-visit stop for any whisky-loving traveller passing through Sydney.
Three Travel-Exclusive Tasmanian Single Malts Debut at Sydney Airport Heinemann
The travel-exclusive collection comprises Cinder Forest No.168, Wild Haven No.172 and Ember Eclipse No.294, with each 700ml expression available exclusively through travel retail stores. Each whisky showcases Tasmanian single malt matured and finished in some of the world’s finest casks, including rum and Cognac.
Cinder Forest No.168 Cinder Forest is shaped by first-fill Port and Sherry casks with a finishing period in American oak, bottled at 41.8% ABV. On the nose, poached nectarine leads, layered with acacia honey and toasted almonds. The palate moves into berry reduction and chocolate, followed by brûléed vanilla custard and shortbread, finishing with espresso-laced nougat, clotted cream and spiced date jam.
Wild Haven No.172 Wild Haven is a bold single malt, initially matured in vintage first-fill Port and Sherry casks from Seppeltsfield, then finished in select rum casks. The rum cask influence adds a warm, tropical richness that makes this expression a standout for fans of fortified-led, full-flavoured whisky.
Ember Eclipse No.294 Ember Eclipse is a refined single malt, finished in premium Cognac casks after ageing in 100% first-fill vintage Port and Sherry casks. It weaves pear tart and praline chocolate with the warmth of quince paste and nougat, with a finish that reveals notes of Madeira pudding, maple butter and tea — offering a balance of wildness and refinement.
LARK Wins World’s Best Design at the World Whiskies Awards 2026
The Sydney Airport debut follows a landmark achievement for the Tasmanian distillery on the global awards circuit. LARK was recognised at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards for the distinctive design of its new packaging, winning both World’s Best Design and Best Range Design for its Single Malt portfolio, presented in a new livery with each malt housed in a redesigned 700ml bottle.
The skylark forms the basis of the design, with its sweeping ascent inspiring the bottle’s sculpted silhouette. The hero illustration weaves the skylark with native Tasmanian flora — blue gum, tanglefoot and tree ferns — depicting the island’s wild beauty and symbolising the whisky’s provenance.
The award-winning portfolio also includes Devil’s Storm No.183 and Ruby Abyss No.285, both available alongside the travel-exclusive trio at the Sydney Airport Heinemann store. Ruby Abyss is a peated single malt bottled at 43.8% ABV, matured entirely in Seppeltsfield Tawny Port casks — some over 100 years old — alongside Australian PX, Apera Sherry and Muscadelle casks. The nose opens with pears steeped in aged dessert wine, amber raisins and caramelised Demerara sugar. The palate is rich with plum preserve, chocolate sauce, buttery croissant notes and earthy peat, finishing long with fortified oak warmth and savoury umami depth.
The LARK House Style: Fortified Depth Meets New World Craft
What makes LARK single malt so distinctive among Australian whiskies — and increasingly, among the world’s finest? It comes down to a house style that is deliberately, unapologetically its own.
The LARK house style is defined by a fortified depth and layered, silky complexity, delivering sweetness, richness and a distinctive New World umami character. This is achieved through a meticulous ageing process in custom-seasoned fortified wine casks and refined using applewood-smoked water, which adds a subtle, sophisticated veil of smoke that rounds out its natural sweetness.
Production remains firmly rooted in Tasmania, with locally grown barley malted in Devonport contributing to a weightier, more textural spirit. A seven-day fermentation process using brewers’ yeast, combined with ambient air exposure, encourages subtle wild yeast influence, while maturation takes place in fortified wine casks sourced from Seppeltsfield in the Barossa Valley, some more than a century old.
The spirits underwent up to 70 tastings by whisky makers across different stages of production — a level of quality control that reflects the brand’s commitment to releasing only what is truly exceptional.
Master Distiller Chris Thomson said: “Taste is our compass. Being New World means we’re not bound by historical rules. That freedom allows us to release whiskies only when they truly sing. We taste every spirit up to 70 times before bottling, ensuring each glass expresses the true essence of Tasmania, its community, climate and terroir.”
Immediate Impact: LARK Becomes #1 Single Malt at Heinemann Sydney
The commercial results since the activation launched have been nothing short of remarkable. Since the launch of the activation, LARK has become the number one single malt and number three brand in the alcohol category at Heinemann Sydney, rising from number 17 during the same period last year.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the new LARK whisky portfolio to the travel retail channel, including three travel-exclusive products. The opportunity to partner with Heinemann and activate in Australia’s premier travel activation space has strengthened our position as one of the leading single malt brands in the country,” said Stuart Gregor, CEO at LARK Distilling Co.
Heinemann Asia Pacific Regional Purchasing Director Ranjith Menon added: “We are delighted to present LARK’s new expressions to our passengers, representing Australia’s one-of-a-kind landscape and pride in craft.”
Heinemann Asia Pacific operates duty-free retail across some of the region’s busiest airports and is widely regarded as the premier travel retail partner in the Australian market.
From Tasmanian Pioneer to Global Luxury Brand
The new range represents a strategic shift for LARK — from a craft Tasmanian distillery to a luxury global brand name. It is a shift built on three decades of uncompromising craft.
In 1992, the Lark household became the first Australian distillery to produce single malt spirit in 154 years, after founders Bill and Lyn Lark successfully lobbied to overturn Tasmania’s antiquated distillation laws. That pioneering act paved the way for Tasmania’s whisky industry, which now encompasses more than 80 distilleries.
Stuart Gregor, who became CEO on 1 January 2026, said: “We’ve laid strong groundwork for the upcoming launch of our anticipated brand restage, crafting a portfolio and identity that stands shoulder to shoulder with the finest whiskies anywhere in the world.”
In the first half of FY26, LARK reported net sales revenue rising 10% to $8.7 million, with whisky net sales up 18% on the prior corresponding period, driven by direct-to-consumer, global travel retail and export distributor channels.
