Today is World Whisky Day and all around Australia people are celebrating with (of course) a whisky or two - hopefully AFTER voting! We're no exception as currently we're at The Whisky Show Sydney pretending to help, but mostly enjoying a few things we've never tried before!

But in case you're not already prepared for the day's festivities and are looking for something delicious as an excuse to join the celebration, below are a few of our favourites from different countries or regions across the world!

Scotland

GlenDronach 18 Allardice - Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The GlenDronach (Glen-dron-ack) is the 'little' Highland distillery that could (when it comes to delivering sherry bombs) and would feature very highly in most sherry bomb whisky drinkers’ hearts by our reckoning. Having enjoyed much success and acclaim since its resurrection and direction under Billy Walker and its subsequent acquisition by Brown-Forman, The GlenDronach appears to be going from strength to strength under the guidance of its current Master Blender Rachael Barrie.

The GlenDronach 18 Allardice is named for the founder of the distillery, James Allardice and is aged for 18 years exclusively in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46% ABV.  First released in 2009. Mid 2018 bottling tasted (current Australian stock as of time of writing).

Nose: Pretty much the gold standard for a modern sherried whisky 'done right'. Juicy sultanas, butter cake, dark dark chocolate, strong cappuccino, dark dried cherries.

Palate: Cinnamon and five spice, plump rich dark sultanas, a decent amount of rich wood tannins, sour dark cherries and honey.  Finish brings rum notes and blackberry jam.

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Ireland

Bushmills 16 - Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Irish whisky is going through a bit of renaissance currently with quite a few new players hitting the market recently. However when it comes to sheer class and value for money this one is hard to beat.

Matured in a mix of American oak Bourbon barrels and Spanish Oloroso Sherry casks before being finished in old Port casks, clocking in at a total of a minimum of 16 years, this sadly underappreciated Irish expression does not get the kudos and attention we think it deserves. Although it's the most expensive whisky on today's list at $120, when compared with other similarly aged Irish whiskies it's a bargain. Add this to the fact that it's just damn tasty, and it's a no brainer as far as we are concerned for us to recommend you give this one a go (or get another if its been awhile!).

Nose: So much going on here - delicious buttery goodness (which we get from a lot of Irish whisky for some reason) with a tonne of fruits and malt thrown in for good measure. Fruits trend from bright tropical to heavier stewed sultanas, while the malt reminds us of cocoa pops and malted milk biscuits.

Palate: The finish on this is a masterclass. Long and nutty, not too dry but lingers pleasantly with a hint of coffee and buttered popcorn and fruitcake. The palate sets the scene perfectly with a very well rounded mix of rich sweet fruits just like the nose, with some well aged oak and malt. Seriously good stuff.

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Woodford Reserve Double Oaked - Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky

A relative newcomer to our shores the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is bottled at a generous, but novice friendly 45.2% ABV.  This whiskey, like the Bushmills 16 above, is a fantastic example of a whiskey that has a lot going on, but in excellent proportion and harmony. For us nothing in its price range and style comes near it for shear drinking enjoyment, flavour and balance. Best of all, at the price and ABV, it makes an amazing cocktail pour in pretty much any whisk(e)y cocktail without breaking the bank or getting lost in the inevitable dilution the ice used in a lot of cocktails can lead to.

Nose: All the stuff American Whiskey is known for but turned up a notch - dreamy caramel toffee, sweet vanilla pod infused spices (cinnamon and nutmeg) with a whiff of old but well loved leather armchair.

Palate: A very generous and balanced sweetness with a pleasing length. Plenty going on thanks it seems to the extra maturation, with the oak very much present but working well with the mash-bill to deliver one of the most balanced palates of any American Whiskey. Perfect for beginners and more experienced drinkers alike.

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Australia

Iniquity - Australian Single Malt Whisky

(Batch 14 tasted for the purposes of this writeup)

Iniquity are an Adelaide based distillery with a serious pedigree in distilling and an ever-growing number of converts.

Iniquity Batch 14 is the latest 'regular' strength bottling at 46% ABV and is a marriage of 'dregs' in French oak red wine cask, of old port barrels (70%) and a 2 year old American oak sherry barrel whisky (30%).

Nose: A greatest hits of previous Iniquity releases for us here. Honey, mint, eucalyptus and syrupy toffee notes, with a hint of savoury herbs detectable after a serious sniff.

Palate: Same as the nose in that it features a lot of trademark Iniquity flavours. Boiled Christmas pudding, simmered stone fruits (more tart than sweet) and a caramel/port note that’s unmistakeably Iniquity.

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Europe

Millstone 12 Sherry - Dutch Single Malt Whisky

Anyone looking for something a bit different or for a gift for someone with a lot of whisky could definitely do worse than these next two whiskies.

The Zuidam distillery is located in the Netherlands and was founded in 1975, named for the founding family. The distillery remains in family hands with the founders two sons now in charge, and production volumes are growing but still relatively small in comparison to mainstream Scottish distilleries.

Interestingly the Millstone label the whiskies are bottled under are named for the onsite, functional windmill (see sometimes clichés are based on fact), which is used to grist the barley.

The Millstone 12 Sherry is bottled at 46% and is matured for 8 years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels, before a further four year maturation in 'downsized' sherry casks which are described as 'very old' Oloroso casks, re-coopered to approx. 250 litres, down from 500-600 litres.

Nose: Nose reminds me of an orange stuffed Christmas pudding from a few years ago, with distinct elements of orange, cinnamon, ginger and chopped nuts. Nose tends towards sticky date pudding the longer it remains in the glass unmolested.

Palate: Has the old cigar and leather armchair that are more typical of an older sherried whisky. More subtle than a Speyside sherry bomb, but still generous. Golden syrup, dark fruits, dark chocolate powder and maple glazed walnuts.

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India

Amrut Portonova - Indian Single Malt Whisky

Hailing from Bangalore, India, Amrut are most widely known for their multi-award winning Amrut Fusion expression, but have been garnering a lot of attention for their rich, malt driven whiskies, made using a combination of local and imported barley, in very traditional Scottish fashion before being aged in a very new world environment with a much more 'aggressive' climate.

The Amrut Portonova is an unpeated expression that has been matured in American oak, ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in (what we can only assume are very generous) port pipes imported from Portugal. Bottled at a serious 62.1% ABV this is not a whisky for the faint hearted or fans of more delicate whiskies, but definitely worth your time.

Nose: A lot going on in this one. A tonne of fruit and chocolate, mostly ripe dark Muscat grapes, sultanas, and red berries (raspberry and cranberry predominantly). Some sweeter, notes of agave nectar and coconut, rounded out nicely with white pepper and baking spices.

Palate: Big upfront alcohol, rewards a bit of air/time in the glass before diving in fully. Once that’s taken care of the chocolate and berries promised in the nose arrive in spades, along with some tropical fruit flavours like kiwifruit and dried mango. The baking spices and pepper are also here, showing more cinnamon and nutmeg.

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Japan

Hakushu Distiller's Reserve - Japanese Single Malt Whisky

Hakushu distillery located in the (stunning scenery of the) foothills of Mount Kaikomagatake was founded in 1973 and seems to be the peated whisky house for Suntory (although in a very Japanese way, as far from Islay peat as you could get).

Hakushu Distiller's Reserve is our pick of the relatively recent Non-Age Statement Japanese core range releases from Suntory, designed to help alleviate cravings for Hakushu 12 with a more affordable offering, less reliant on age and more so on nose and palate. A truly worthy addition and objectively good whisky for the price.

Nose: Main notes nosed consist of fresh pine needles, honeydew melon, fresh peppermint and bee keepers smoker (smouldering pine needles and raw honeycomb and wax in this case).

Palate: One of the few whiskies where the palate faithfully delivers what is promised on the nose. Throw in a touch of citrus (ruby grapefruit or fresh yuzu peel). Revisit the whisky a few months after opening and it just gets better and better as the flavours 'deepen'.

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Asia

Kavalan Solist Port Cask Matured Cask Strength - Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky

Kavalan and it's rise to international acclaim and renown is an intriguing and inspiring story of what can be achieved with a razor sharp focus and a lot of money.  Based in Yilan County, Taiwan, Kavalan is one of the growing number of 'New World' distilleries that have taken the Scottish method for making single malt whisky and run with it.  Thanks to its sub-tropical location and the weather this brings, Kavalan has some of the most intense climates for maturing whisky, resulting in speedy and greedy maturation times and angels (loosing up to 15% volume of a barrel a year to evaporation).

The Kavalan Solist Port Cask Matured Cask Strength we are trying today, is like all Solist releases, a single cask.  This particular expression was bottled at 59.4% and is available across quite a few Australian online and bricks and mortar bottle shops.

Nose: Port 'influence' super obvious in the nose which smells like a bottle of grandad's/grandma's best bottle mixed with brown sugar, mulled wine spice and Spicy Fruit Roll biscuits.

Palate: The palate fully follows through on the nose, with a spiced port presentation, enhanced with a rich dark chocolate bitterness, a savoury macadamia oil aspect and a sweet and sour sauce finish that is decently long.

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