Dec 2001 Volume 82 Number 1 "serving the protectors"
Tarac's Cellar Door

Tarac is an Australian success story. Its sustained progress, innovation and integrity have made it so.

Tarac was founded by Alfred J Allen in 1929. He had experimented in his backyard shed and planned to recover tartrate salts and residual grape alcohol from fermented winery by-products.

Soon afterward - among the vineyards of the Barossa Valley at Nuriootpa - the first commercial recovery plant was established. Tarac now owns and operates four strategically located distilleries and processes up to 80 per cent of Australia’s fortifying grape spirit, and about half of its bulk brandy requirements.

In the 1980s, Tarac acquired the Beenleigh Rum Distillery - Australia’s oldest registered distillery - in Queensland. Tarac has used technology and expertise to develop a style and blend of its rum to meet demand. Today, Beenleigh Dark Rum is a superior product that has won the highest medal at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London in 1995.

Tarac’s Barossa Distilling Cellar Door - on Barossa Valley Way, Nuriootpa -is a distiller rather than a winery. Cellar Door tastings cost only $3. Visitors can taste three products from either the Cellar Door tasting list or the cocktail list. They can also taste spirits - straight - which is encouraged. Mixers are offered with any spirit.

Cocktails are pre-prepared for quick service but, by far, these samples are the most popular for tasting. Any bottle of spirit purchased brings a refund of the $3 fee for the tastings.

BAROSSA CLASSIC LIQUEUR

Made in the Barossa, this is a sweetened brandy-based liqueur with nuts, herbs and fruit flavours.

It is a delightfully smooth and creamy full-flavoured liqueur that has been aged in American oak. The fruit from the Barossa’s sun-soaked vines result in a carefully blended aperitif.

Distinctive plum notes blend well with a rich, smooth character. This liqueur is best consumed as an after-dinner drink.

RRP per 500ml bottle: $22.90

CLASSIC BEENLEIGH LIQUEUR

This aromatic, wood-matured rum liqueur is distilled from the finest Queensland cane.

It is delicate yet irresistible. Distilled and matured in oak carefully blended with natural flavours, it gives a distinctive, smooth character.

Classic Beenleigh Liqueur is an after-dinner drink, which a good cigar would complement.

RRP per 500ml bottle: $22.90

BACCHUS SCHNAPPS-BUTTERSCOTCH

Tarac makes the spirit which goes into this drink.

Leftover grape skins are distilled from the winemaking process until a neutral spirit - at 96% alc/vol - results. This forms the base to which the various flavours are added - in this case, butterscotch.

It is smooth and creamy to the palate, with a distinctive and abundant butterscotch flavour.

RRP per 700ml bottle: $15

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