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    Winemaker

    Fiona Coutts

    Discipline
    Winemaker
    Based in
    Burnie, Australia
    Portrait of Fiona Coutts

    i. Biography

    Her work is Tasmanian single malt whisky, with ultra-aged stock and bourbon-cask maturation doing much of the heavy lifting. The structure comes from long, slow distillation, fermentation science, and cask selection that is measured rather than flashy.

    Coming Up

    Before distilling, Fiona Coutts worked as a medical scientist in pathology until 2021. That background carried into the still room at Hellyers Road Distillery in Tasmania, where precision and patience already mattered more than pace.

    Where They Are Now

    Bourbon casks set the house style, while fermentation science and controlled distillation give the whisky its frame. The method favors restraint and technical consistency over speed. Her signature work is Hellyers Road American Oak 22 Year Old Single Cask 2325.03.

    Career - Medical scientist in pathology (until 2021) - Head distiller — Hellyers Road Distillery, Tasmania

    In Their Words “It's going to absolutely be a growth category.” “I immediately hit it off with Andy at the time.”

    FAQ What is Fiona Coutts's current role? As of 2026, Fiona Coutts is Head Distiller. What is Fiona Coutts known for? Tasmanian single malt whisky, especially ultra-aged stock and bourbon-cask maturation at Hellyers Road.