Situated deep in the West Gippsland region, the tiny town of Thorpdale is best known for potatoes, thanks to its rich agricultural industry and community events like the Thorpdale Potato Festival. But now the tight-knit town — population 475 — will go down as the home of the West Gippsland region's very first distillery, located in the historic Travellers Rest Hotel. The journey to get here has not been easy. In 2017, the 80-year-old pub was destroyed by fire, with many in the community fearing their beloved art deco watering hole would never open again. However, new owners Jill Jepson and Sean McCarthy took on the responsibility of returning this spot to its former glory. The results were impressive, with a new beer garden and deck overlooking spud country giving the community its much-needed social hub once more. Now Jepson and McCarthy have led the public house into its next chapter, with the unveiling of a brand-new, in-house distillery in the pub's former basement keg room. Initially starting with vodka, the output will showcase a range of local produce, with an aim to utilise Thorpdale's famous potatoes. Complete with a visitors' tasting room and bar, the subterranean space is filled with historic features that showcase the pub's 88-year story from to the original keg room doors, to the smartly restored former staff bedrooms which now house the shiny new still, as well as a cosy tasting room and a library. One historic leftover is the so-called drunk's room, where blitzed rogues would get safely stowed for the night, rather than being left to wander the surrounding paddocks in a haze. Visitors to the Travellers Rest Hotel can expect the distillery to serve up a series of creatively infused vodkas, with the initial offering including apple and coffee-accented tipples. Meanwhile, a seasonally evolving menu of smaller-batch runs will showcase the very best of the region's produce throughout the year. In addition, the distillery will soon host immersive tastings and masterclasses, designed to take you behind the scenes of the distilling process. There'll also be bottles available for purchase over the counter, if you're after a memento of your visit to West Gippsland. Don't cut your trip short though — after your tasting, you can head upstairs to the front bar for a classic counter meal, and keep warm in front of one of the pub's two wood heaters. The Travellers Rest Hotel is open at 2 Station Street, Thorpdale. Head to the venue's website for more information. Images: Nicky Cawood.