We come from a land down under…
Winter 2018 saw an extraordinary season of Australian whisky releases, a lot of which were focused around The Oak Barrel in Sydney, champions of local producers and distillers as well as one of the best bottle shops in the country (don’t just take our word for it)! Here in no particular order are five that caught our attention (and wallets).
Corowa Distilling Co. First Drop
Single Malt Australian Whisky
500ml, 63.1% ABV
Owner: Corowa Distilling Co.
Corowa have been on our radar here at The Whisky List for a couple of years now since a fateful distillers dinner where we met the dynamic duo behind this whisky, Dean Druce and Beau ‘The Dreaded Distiller’ Schellig.
After what seems like an eternity to us impatient Whisky fiends the first official Whisky release from Corowa Distilling Co. has broken cover. Aptly named ‘First Drop’ this first release was aged in 100L American Oak Port Barrels from the Barossa using barley acquired from local farms and malted nearby, then distilled in their completely refurbished ex-flour mill (which is an amazing site and story all on its own!). 320 bottles were released at 63.1% ABV which promptly sold out. Some stock remaining in a few speciality retailers but these will undoubtedly disappear shortly also.
Nose: Manuka honey, raisins, a good aged Tawny Port, Botrytis with toasted wheat bran underneath.
Palate: Salted caramel, ripe fat dark grapes, Dark Brown Sugar, gingerbread and honey-jumble biscuits. Finish is medium length and ever so slightly dry, but so so good.
Black Gate BG055
Single Malt Australian Whisky
500ml, 63.6% ABV
Owner: Black Gate Distillery
From perennial favourites of ours, Black Gate, comes their first heavily peated expression — BG055. Bottled at cask strength (a double win!) this whisky was made using peated malt barley from Scotland in July 2016, aged in an ex-Sherry barrel and bottled and released in August 2018 (177 bottles in this run) at The Oak Barrel Sydney Whisky Fair.
This release marks a new direction for Black Gate and all whisky made since has been produced using heavily peated malt. I’m guessing there a few casks of non-peated spirit ageing in the bonded warehouse in Mendooran but they will become less and less common as time goes by. Its fascinating (and tasty) to see how the Black Gate distillery character of big, heavy, oily, treacley spirit has fused with the peated barley.
Nose: Nose belies the smokey depths contained within. Dark molasses, fruit cake and the faintest suggestion of morning after bonfire.
Palate: First sip brings an amazing bonfire on a cold winter’s day wave of smoke quickly followed up by well toasted bush damper drenched in golden syrup and a hint of black tea leaves on the finish (minus the astringency). Super easy to drink for the ABV and an absolutely smashing dram.
Iniquity — Batch 12
Single Malt Australian Whisky
700ml/200ml, 46% ABV
Owner: Tin Shed Distilling
This cracking Australian whisky made it’s public debut at Whisky Fair Sydney 2018 which was hosted and organised by Scott and the team from The Oak Barrel.
Iniquity Batch 12 sees a return to the bigger fruit forward notes found in earlier releases with a less dry palate than more recent releases with the Iniquity house style eucalyptus and menthol finish. Aged in good old sunny Adelaide, in a 90/10 mix of American Oak ex-Port/French Oak ex-Sherry barrels. Invites repeated sipping and rewards patience as it the depths of the fruits open with a little time in the glass before drinking.
Nose: Quite a lot going on in the nose with typical Iniquity nut and fruits coming through — think toasted walnuts, candied ginger pieces, stewed plums and dried figs drizzled with honey. Not sure if this is breakfast or not ;)
Palate: Rich and fruity with stewed raisins, berries and honeyed figs, mixed with faint hints eucalyptus cough drops/butter menthol. Pleasantly oily with a decent length and a slight tickle of clean wood smoke on the finish.
Riverbourne Identity 4–1
Single Malt Australian Whisky
500ml, 62.2% ABV
Owner: Riverbourne Distillery
The second non-peated release from Martin ‘The Kid’ Pye, The Riverbourne Identity 4–1 stands apart from most of its Australian whisky counterparts in its floral, citrus character and waxiness — almost dare I say it, more like a Speyside than a typical Australian whisky. Brewed and Distilled in Jingera using NSW barley and aged in the NSW Highlands we’re not entirely sure how the Kid does it but we’re glad he is (and look forward to what else he has up his sleeves).
Nose: Nose is dangerously seductive with no hint of the ABV hiding underneath. Fragrant notes of fresh cut flowers (Geraniums and Lavender), freshly cut pine log.
Palate: Texture is waxy (reminiscent of a good cask strength Clynelish) with more citrus flavour than suggested on the nose, with a seductive thread of lavender and a light malt biscuit tang backed by a nice woodiness.
Starward Bourbon Cask
Single Malt Australian Whisky
500ml, 52% ABV
Owner: Starward Distillery
We are a bit late to the party reviewing this one but were ‘lucky’ enough to be ‘hanging around’ out the front of the distillery the morning this was released to the public and made sure to avail ourselves of the opportunity to a) try the stuff and b) buy as many as the staff would let us have shortly thereafter.
Showcasing the new labelling for ‘Project’ labels (think non-core/experimental expressions) which has replaced the original New Wold Projects labels, this 1200 bottle release showcases the Starward spirit beautifully. Aged for 4.5 years in the crazy Melbourne climate in a mix of ex-Makers Mark and Wild Turkey barrels then bottled at 52% ABV in 500ml bottle, this release is an exciting departure from the regular bottling strengths of 41% and 43% and the normal barrel types of red wine and Apera.
Nose: Starward green banana, caramel, dried paw paw and Brazilian glazed and roasted pineapple with a hint of something citrus-y underneath. Like a Banoffee Pie on crack (and fire).
Palate: Amazingly well integrated and rounded with no rough edges at all, this is an amazing insight into what mature Starward spirit tastes like without any (admittedly tasty) cask influence distractions presented by red wine or Apera. Creamy rich mouthfeel with vanilla, honey (typical from an ex-Bourbon cask) sitting beautifully alongside salted caramel shortbread (thanks for the tin from Harrods, mum!) with lingering pineapple and paw paw on the back. Yum.
Sold Out online :(
Cheers,
The Whisky List
