World Whisky Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May each year. Luckily for you, Australian distilleries are known for producing world-class whisky, perfect for celebrating the big day on May 16th.
Australia is a major global producer of both barley and rye grain, meaning Australian distilleries are well positioned to produce high-quality, traditional single malt whisky and rye whisky as well as experiment with delicious modern whisky blends.
Whether this is your first time exploring the world of whisky or you're looking to switch-up your current favourites, the list below includes a great selection. With a single-malt whisky from Furneaux Distillery, a rye whisky from The Gospel Whiskey and a new whisky blend from Melbourne Moonshine, there is something for everyone celebrating this World Whisky Day.
Furneaux Distillery Flinders Island Peated Apera Cask
Bold, sweet spice, fig, date and fruitcake on the nose. On the palate it bursts with bright cherry, a nuttiness and a hint of licorice which develops to the oily, aromatic smoke characteristic of our coastal peat. The finish carries gentle smoke and a lovely sticky sweetness. Furneaux Distillery say: This whisky was aged for five years in Apera (sherry) Quarter Casks. It was distilled using 100 per cent Tasmanian barley, which was smoked on Flinders Island using local coastal peat. Our peat imparts a gentle, aromatic smoke, which is complemented beautifully by the rich, velvety fruit notes imparted by 50-year-old ex Seppeltsfield Apera casks.
Best enjoyed: This whisky is unflocked single malt, meaning the spirit carries a lot of fats and oils throughout production. We specifically don’t remove those elements by filtering, because they will provide a great deal of mouthfeel and texture to the whisky. We recommend serving it neat so you can experience the full aroma and flavour.
Being matured in a fortified wine cask, this whisky carries a lot of sweetness, and rich, dried fruit flavours. At an ABV of 49 per cent it still has a lot of complexity and intensity, so it pairs perfectly with dessert – dark chocolate, cake and salted caramel.
RRP $220 | furneauxdistillery.com.au | Shop this whisky
The Gospel Project Nicks Wine Merchant
This 100 per cent rye single cask was aged for over four years in a heavy-toasted, medium-char new American oak barrel and bottled at cask strength. Rich and indulgent aromas of brown sugar and old tawny port, with flavours of cocoa, summer pudding, buzzing rye spice and a long, warming vanillin oak finish.The Gospel Whiskey say: The Gospel Projects series is born from an obsession with making the world's best rye whiskey. Every release is a single cask, one barrel, one pursuit of perfection. This one was selected by Nicks Wine Merchants, Melbourne's most respected independent bottle shop. Family-owned since 1974, four generations deep, with over 1300 whiskies, many tasted and scored. Two obsessions. One barrel.
Best enjoyed: The whiskey is from a ‘honey cask' that stood out for its richness and balance so, first and foremost, we recommend appreciating it straight, then experimenting with slow dilution. It’s a big rye that’s also going to work in a Manhattan, with power in reserve to hold up to sweet vermouth and bitters. You'll need something full-flavoured to match the generous, spicy character of this whiskey. A peppered rib-eye is a good place to start. But sometimes simpler pairings have greater merit – Roquefort on toasted rye, where salt and funk cut through the richness, or a square of fine dark chocolate.
RRP $149.99 | thegospelwhiskey.com | Shop this whisky
Melbourne Moonshine Apple Pie Shine
Baked apple up front, followed by a slow build of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, built on a foundation of triple-distilled grain spirit. Smooth and rounded at 30 per cent ABV, with a gentle warmth that lingers – more like apple pie fresh from the oven than anything overly sweet or spiced.Melbourne Moonshine say: First released in 2016, Melbourne Moonshine’s Apple Pie Shine helped shape the early wave of modern Australian distilling. It quickly earned a following (and Gold medals) for its bold, no-nonsense flavour. Now relaunched with a new look (same liquid), it blends Victorian apples with triple-distilled spirit, offering a considered local and independent alternative to the usual cinnamon-led spirits.
Best enjoyed: Versatile by design. Best with ginger beer or soda and a wedge of lime for a bright, easy highball, or served neat over ice. To step things up, try a Whisky Sour or Penicillin cocktail. Works equally well in warm cocktails; try a Hot Toddy or Spiked Mulled Cider during the colder months. Then pair it with your Nonna’s apple pie, with cream, of course! Or lean savoury with roast pork, crackling and a touch of apple sauce. The spice and fruit lift both sweet and rich dishes.
RRP $59 | applepieshine.com.au | Shop this whisky
Top image credits: The Gospel Whiskey
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