Why We Chose the Name Nonesuch for Our Distillery

One of the most common questions we receive is why our distillery is named "Nonesuch."  Rex, who along with Annette, founded the distillery explains.

"The story begins with my great-great-grandfather, Robert Halstead.  In 1831, when he was just six years old, Robert arrived in Van Diemen's Land (as Tasmania was known back then) with his parents.  After marrying and settling in the northern part of the island, he returned south in 1864.  Robert rented and farmed a property near Sorell and that property was named Nonesuch.  He remained there for several years before purchasing a farm near Launceston and moving North again.  

Growing up, I was aware of the connection between our family and the Nonesuch property, but I never really thought about the name itself. That changed when I was deep into the process of establishing the distillery.  As I waited for various approvals and the completion of construction, I picked up a book about British General Sir Ian Hamilton who commanded the troops at Gallipoli.  In it, Hamilton expressed his frustration with his allies, lamenting that he wished Lord Kitchener were there, as Kitchener was “a real nonesuch” in such matters.

It struck me that the only other time I had encountered the word "nonesuch" was in connection with the property my great-great-grandfather had lived on. Curious, I decided to look up the meaning. I discovered that "nonesuch" is an old English term, first used in 1590, meaning "a person or thing without equal."

This definition resonated deeply with me. Creating something without equal was precisely what I aimed to do with our Gin—and later, with Chris’s involvement, our Whisky.  We never set out to dominate the world of spirits, but we did have one clear goal: to set a benchmark for quality.

The name Nonesuch is a daily reminder that quality is our only goal, and it inspires us to uphold this standard in every bottle we produce."