1770 Distillery was established as a Boutique Distillery in order to make use of the locally-grown fruits in the area and to offer an exclusive experience to locals and tourists alike. John had always harbored the dream of having his own distillery, which led both him and Debra to the picturesque coastal Town of 1770 / Agnes Water in Queensland. Their dream became a reality after they developed a passion for distilling while living in Tasmania. During their time there, John and Debra honed their distilling skills under the guidance of Bill and Lyn Lark from the Lark Distillery.