Whisky Posts & Articles

The complete guide to oak, casks, & whisky maturation

Whisky maturation is both a simple and, yet, incredibly complex process.  Let’s look at the subject in detail; explore what the distilleries are doing; address a few myths; and explain all the beautiful things that happen when we age whisky in oak casks…

One of the quintessential images associated with whisky these days is the classic “action shot” inside the warehouse.  Think of those old-school, dunnage style, dimly-lit warehouses with earth floors and casks racked just two or three tiers high.  It’s an evocative image, showcasing the majestic oak casks quietly slumbering, doing their part to mature the spirit that will one day give us delicious whisky. 

Oak casks maturing in warehouses - Whisky maturation

But it wasn’t always this way.  Whisky – uisge beatha, or the water of life – was originally an unaged spirit, taken off the still and flavoured with additives such as honey or heather to quell the drink’s aggressive nature and to make it more palatable.   Tradition, or perhaps just a convenient story for the distillery tour guides, tells us that the maturation and aging of whisky was a happy accident.  Variations on the story abound, but the crux of it is that some unfortunate person had more uisge beatha than he could immediately consume, and so he put it in an oak cask to store it until he was ready for it.  The cask was left alone or forgotten about for some time, and when it was finally retrieved, he made the happy discovery that the spirit had mellowed, improved, and taken on new characteristics.  Maturation, as we know it today, was born.

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5Nines Distilling – Adelaide’s new kid on the block

It was around 18 months ago that a whisky colleague of mine flicked me an email saying he’d come across a new distillery in Adelaide.  The operation hadn’t released any whisky yet, but he’d visited the distillery and was impressed with the approach being taken on site.  “Keep an eye out” was the intel that came my way.

Fast-forward to the present and the distillery – 5Nines – is now an established name that is quietly plying its trade.  And for those seeking diversity and variation from a single producer, 5Nines has hit the scene with a large range of whiskies that showcases different styles and flavours.

So what’s to know about the distillery?  Well, the name is a good starting point:  The owners claim their sole passion is to create the perfect spirit, and at 5Nines they’re trying to achieve perfection. 99.999% perfect?  That’s the five nines. 

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Whisky Advent Calendar

For those wanting to expand their whisky experience and explore a diverse range of whiskies without spending a fortune on full bottles, the advice for many years was to find a bar with a good selection and buy yourself a few drams over several sessions.  Such an approach is affordable, but not always convenient, and not particularly possible if you live a long way from a well-stocked whisky bar.

A far more popular and convenient alternative has been the recent availability of whisky Advent Calendars.  And one of the better offerings out this year is the “Whisky Selection Box” by The Really Good Whisky Company.

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Ardbeg 8yo – For Discussion

If there’s one distillery on Islay that is guaranteed to invoke discussion, it’s Ardbeg.  From its unfortunate history in the 1980’s and ‘90’s; to the brand’s vibrant, fun and cheeky personality of today; to the Ardbeg Committee and the special members-only Committee Releases, Ardbeg is a whisky that every drinker has something to say about.  The new Ardbeg 8yo For Discussion, which is available via https://ardbegcommittee.com.au, has been released to trigger discussion amongst Ardbeg Committee members, and it’s a discussion worth having.  So what is it that we’re talking about?

The Ardbeg 8yo For Discussion is a new members-only Committee Release, and it remains to be seen if it will join the core-range in Ardbeg’s gradually expanding portfolio.   So, apart from the age statement of 8 years old, what is it that’s up for discussion?  The answer is pretty interesting and prompts some exploration into Ardbeg’s flavour spectrum….

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Matching a whisky to every James Bond film

James Bond and whisky? Whisky has been paired with food for decades, although in more recent years we’ve seen whiskies paired and matched to cigars, watches, music, and even movies!   If you’re going to sit down in your comfy sofa and pass away a few hours being entertained by 007, then having a good dram in your hand goes a long way to enhancing the James Bond experience.

Of course, Bond’s drink of choice may be a vodka martini, but we can shake and stir things up for the whisky drinkers out there who are James Bond fans: Here is our effort to pair and match the perfect whisky to every (official) James Bond film.

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The Malt Whisky Yearbook 2022

With the whisky industry being possibly the most dynamic it’s ever been – for example, new distilleries being established; existing distilleries changing ownership; defunct distilleries being resurrected; distillery upgrades and refurbishments; new brands appearing; new releases and new expressions entering the market; personnel changing companies; etc, etc – it’s a tough job trying to stay on top of every update and development.   Fortunately for all of us, one man takes on the task each year and does all the research and reporting for us.  For the avid whisky enthusiasts among us who want a one-stop-shop for all the latest data and information, there’s really only one resource: Ingvar Ronde’s “Malt Whisky Yearbook”.

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The Highland Coast 700 Whisky Route – HC700

If you’re planning a trip to Scotland and you’re reading this blog, then there’s a good chance that visiting a whisky distillery or two will be part of your itinerary!  Notwithstanding the whisky aspect, most guides or books for Scottish tourism naturally focus on the attractions of Edinburgh and the usual historic sites beyond such as Stirling Castle, etc.  Unfortunately, when it comes to tourist guides and even online resources, it would be fair to say that there’s not a lot that gets devoted to the far north and the Highlands.  Which is a great shame, since it’s the far north that boasts some of Scotland’s most stunning and dramatic landscapes, scenery, and attractions.  The Highland Coast 700 is a fantastic resource and journey that addresses this imbalance, and is a must-have for any serious whisky enthusiast exploring Scotland.  If you’re embarking on the North Coast 500 (aka NC500), the Highland Coast 700 is the obvious extension and guidebook. 

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The whisky lover’s complete guide to sherry

When you first start to explore the world of single malt Scotch whisky, you learn early on that the vast majority of whisky is matured in two different types of casks:  Casks that previously held bourbon, and casks that previously held sherry. 

With further exploration and perhaps some self-education with your nose and palate, you’ll probably begin to be able to identify when a whisky’s maturation journey has been influenced by sherry casks.   In other words, you’ll either smell or taste the sherry cask influence on the spirit.  And, like many people, you might even find yourself favouring the sherried style of whisky, and you’ll have a preference for the distilleries that make sherry cask maturation a feature of their house style and portfolio.  (Glenfarclas, Glendronach, and Macallan arguably being the three main front-runners in this regard, although the Aberlour’s a’Bunadh release is also a long-time favourite).

Whilst many people understand and appreciate the concept of using second hand sherry casks to mature whisky, few people actually understand or appreciate sherry by and of itself.  What is sherry, as a drink?  What are the different types of sherry?  Do some sherry types work better with Scotch whisky than others?  If you’re one of the many whisky lovers who enjoys a sherried dram, Whisky & Wisdom presents this complete guide to sherry to help you understand more about what you’re actually enjoying and why…..

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Iniquity whisky and Tin Shed Distillers

Looking for information about Iniquity whisky?  Read on…

In the busy, buzzing, and bulging world of the Australian whisky industry, it would be fair to say that the distilleries of South Australia tend to get overlooked.   At the very least, they don’t get the share of the limelight they deserve.

The reasons for this are fairly straightforward: (i) South Australia is not in Tasmania, where most punters perceive all the action to be.  (ii) The distilleries are generally small operations (with one exception), and the higher profile or “big brand” distilleries are in other states. (iii) The distillers behind the distilleries are modest folks who focus on making good whisky, rather than focusing on their social media and playing the popularity game.  (On that note, and as an aside:  I would not be the first commentator to observe that, in some cases, a whisky brand’s social media profile and volume are inversely proportional to the quality and quantity of its whisky).

The irony of this situation is the reality that, by and large, the distilleries of South Australia consistently make good whisky and are genuinely amongst the most lauded in the land.   All distilleries will generally have hits and misses over their journeys; the trick is obviously to have the ledger filled with more of the former than the latter.  One distillery that has excelled at achieving a consistent DNA; a reliable house style; and churning out a string of hits is Tin Shed Distilling Co through its Iniquity whisky label.

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Morris Whisky – Rutherglen shows its Signature

The Australian whisky industry continues to keep its fans both delighted and curious as the list of new and emerging distilleries grows – seemingly unabated.  It almost seems like a new distillery lifts its head above the parapet every month, and the latest to do so is the previously unheralded Morris. 

That much, in itself, is a story.  Many distilleries elect to announce their establishment through social media channels, and then drip feed news, pictures, and work-in-progress releases or similar teasers as they build brand awareness whilst waiting for their spirit to mature.  In contrast to this, Morris went about its business with almost ninja-like stealth, before suddenly announcing its arrival with the launch of its first two initial releases.

Of course, Morris is anything but a new name in Australian drinks circles, with Morris of Rutherglen being one of the most famous and respected producers of fortified wines in the world.  With such a long and celebrated history of making some of this country’s greatest muscats, sherries, ports, and tokays (okay, aperas, tawnys, and topaques), it was perhaps only a matter of time until they turned their attention to whisky.  Little wonder, also, that they turned to their ex-wine cask inventory to mature their spirit!

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