Whisky Posts & Articles

Backwoods Distilling – the jewel of Yackandandah

If you follow the Australian whisky industry and tune into its various channels, there’s a strong chance you’ve heard of Backwoods Distilling.  There’s even a good chance you’ve possibly tasted Backwoods Distilling’s whiskies.   And if you haven’t tasted or sought out Backwoods – then you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Backwoods is one of the many Australian distilleries that was founded in the “gold rush” of distilleries being established in the years following the big Sullivans Cove award of 2014.  It joins one of the many – very many – Australian whisky distilleries that are run by a husband-and-wife duo.   They make good whisky and it’s a good story, so let’s tell that story….

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Torabhaig Distillery – the new kid on the block

When speaking of the many new distilleries to have set up and commenced operations in the last 10 years, we often refer to them as “the new kid on the block”.  Which is fair enough if you set up in the Highlands and you’re one of many distilleries already established in the area.  But what happens if you’re the new kid on the block and the old kid on the block has had the block all to himself for over 187 years?  Such is the lot of Torabhaig Distillery.

Torabhaig Distillery is many things but, to a lot of whisky enthusiasts, one suspects it will long be referred to as the other distillery on the Isle of Skye.   It is just the second distillery on the island, joining, of course, the long-established Talisker.   Talisker has waved the flag on Skye since 1830; Torabhaig’s spirit first started flowing from the stills in 2017.  So how does a new distillery get going in the shadow of a bigger and long-established neighbour?   The formula is pretty simple:  Do things properly and do them well.  And Torabhaig doing things both properly and well is precisely what I observed during a very pleasant morning visit to the distillery on a warm summer’s day.

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Falkirk Distillery

For many years – decades, in fact – if you were a whisky enthusiast visiting either Edinburgh or Glasgow and you only had half a day spare to visit a distillery, your options were pretty much limited to either Glenkinchie or Auchentoshan.  With the explosion of Lowland distilleries in recent times, there are now a few more options.  If you’ve got your own set of wheels and you’re moving between Edinburgh and Glasgow (in either direction), there’s a new distillery you must check out:  Falkirk Distillery.

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Glenfiddich 16 Aston Martin

Glenfiddich – the single malt that started it all back in 1963 – is the quintessential Speyside whisky. We’re all so familiar with the flagship 12yo expression, whisky enthusiasts often overlook the older and limited-release expressions in the range.  Indeed, even though we wrote the piece over 10 years ago now, our article The three stages of your attitude to Glenfiddich: Like – Hate – Love still attracts attention and daily hits online.  As that article explored, the ubiquitous nature of the 12yo leads many whisky drinkers to try Glenfiddich and then move on – thus denying themselves the quality malts found elsewhere in the distillery’s portfolio.  If it’s time you re-connected with the brand, the new Glenfiddich 16 Aston Martin collaboration is the perfect opportunity. 
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Jack Daniel’s 10 Years Old

There are two big names when it comes to American whiskey, and one of them is Jack Daniel’s.  For many years, there was a cheeky saying in the States that America’s favourite whiskey wasn’t a bourbon.  Because, by definition, Jack Daniel’s is not a bourbon!  It’s a Tennessee Whiskey, which we’ll elaborate on in a moment, but the main talking point is this:  Jack Daniel’s has its loyal fans, and its fans in Australia can look forward to something very special:  The upcoming return of the Jack Daniel’s 10 Years Old expression.

Fans of “Jack” around the world are familiar with the ubiquitous Old No. 7 Brand with the iconic black label and white writing.   The Old No. 7 bottling has never had an age statement, but it’s always been accepted that the spirit in each batch has an average age of around four to five years.   Australians love American whiskies, in fact, per capita we are the biggest market for American whiskey outside the USA itself.  So when Jack Daniel’s put out an older expression with a 10 Years Old age statement last year, it was no surprise that it sold out quickly.  How quickly?  The entire Australian allocation of 3,000 bottles sold out in less than a week!   Fortunately, we’ve not had to wait too long for it to return to our shores….

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The Glendronach “Ode to….” series

Glendronach distillery has always had a loyal fan base; indeed, for those who enjoy the sherried-style of single malt Scotch whisky, Glendronach is one of the first distilleries that comes to mind.  Located in Huntly, just to the east of the Speyside region, it is one of the smaller and more traditional distilleries, but – as whisky enthusiasts have known for a long time – it punches above its weight.  So much so, its loyal fan base is a growing one.  And rightly so….

The distillery was founded in 1826 and so this year marks its 200th birthday.  The whisky community in Australia was privileged this July to have Dr Rachel Barrie, Glendronach’s Master Blender, visit our shores to help celebrate the occasion.   Having Dr Barrie in town, it was also a timely opportunity to shine a light on the distillery’s Master’s Anthology collection, perhaps better known amongst the punters as the “Ode to…”  series.

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The etiquette and politics of whisky write-ups and reviews

Reader discretion advised:  Rant incoming, partially triggered by a whisky producer who didn’t take kindly to some feedback I gave them about their whisky.  It seems the etiquette and politics of whisky write-ups and reviews might be evolving. But first I’ll set the scene….

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Ardbeg Ten Cask Strength

If you’re an Ardbeg fan (and, presumably – by definition – an Ardbeg drinker) then you’ll eagerly await each Committee Exclusive release when they come along.  Whether it’s the annual Ardbeg Day special release, or some other Committee Exclusive that the team has put together, it would be fair to say that these releases always generate some serious chatter in the whiskyverse.  The new release – the Ardbeg Ten Cask Strength – has simultaneously done two opposite things at once:  It’s got people talking, and it’s shut a few people up!!   So what’s the deal with the Ardbeg 10 CS?

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Glen Moray – A (w)hole in one!

Glen Moray, one of Scotland’s fastest growing whisky brands, continues to go from strength to strength.  The distillery has had a long-established presence in Australia, dating back to the early “Chardonnay-mellowed” releases of the late 1990’s. The range continues to expand and to offer single malt Scotch drinkers a diverse range of styles and flavours, all from under the one roof.  And, more recently, it seems Glen Moray has added golf to its persona.  It’s a (w)hole lot in one!

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Whisky Wayfarers

If you’ve read anything about the whisky industry in the last 12 months, you’ll be aware that the once vibrant and booming industry is experiencing a sharp downturn.  The reasons are many and varied but, what it ultimately means, is that whisky brands, distributors, and retailers…and even just whisky enthusiasts keen to share and spread good whisky…. need to get creative in finding or improving routes to market.  Whisky Wayfarers is one such venture forging new ground.

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