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A behind-the-scenes tour of Archie Rose’s controversial new distillery

Luke McCarthy - December 19, 2020

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A first look at the groundbreaking distillery that's ignited one of the most heated arguments in Australian whisky for decades.

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The new Archie Rose Heritage Red Gum Single Malt Whisky has landed.

This remarkable whisky was matured in native red gum casks that previously held Australian wine since the 1930s. On top of that, Archie Rose’s master distiller Dave Withers has an incredible connection to the history of these casks.

Editor @lukemccarthyau has been writing about the native wood whisky trend for a number of years, and he reckons this new Archie Rose red gum malt is a genuine progression of the style.

For the full chat, hit the link in our bio for an in-depth review of what will likely become one of the most talked about Australian whiskies of 2024.

- Image: Archie Rose Distilling Co.

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Top 10 Australian whiskies of 2023.

It’s that time of year again, and it’s been such a pleasure to look back on the best and brightest whisky releases of 2023.

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As always, there were some heated arguments and disagreements on the final list, and feel free to let us know what your top picks of 2023 were.

A huge thank you to everyone for coming on the journey again this year, particularly to our amazing contributors Ev Liong @queen_ofthe_dram and Julian White from @whiskyandalement.

Special thanks go out to our subscribers for your support, and a big shout-out to all the producers and people who make Australian whisky happen – we’ve had an awesome time sharing your stories and tasting your fantastic work this year.

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The South Australian distilling industry is booming. Over 100 distilleries can be found in South Australia today, and over two dozen of them are making whisky.

But, unbeknown to many, South Australia has a long, mostly forgotten history of whisky production stretching back to the free colony’s earliest days. Some of the state’s most iconic wine names including @penfolds, @yalumbawine and @seppeltsfield have all made whisky in former eras, and the remnants of SA whisky distilleries can still be seen today (when you know where to look).

To find out what happened to these long-lost distilleries and their whiskies, dive into the story of whisky making in the wine state in our latest long read. Link in bio.

📷 - State Library of South Australia:

- Seppeltsfield Distillery, 1896
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- Milne & Co employees, 1900

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First Look: Kilderkin Goldfields Single Malt Whisky.

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Photo – @medadesignau

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New Release: South Australians have a new single malt whisky to celebrate with the release of Barossa Distilling Co's Gallus Single Malt Whisky.

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- Image: @barossadistillingco

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The new $85 Archie Rose Double Malt Whisky has arrived.

What does the release mean for the Australian whisky industry? How does it taste, how does it mix, and will bars and retailers get behind it?

Editor Luke McCarthy talked to Archie Rose master distiller Dave Withers to get the lowdown on one of the biggest Australian whisky releases of the year.

Link in our bio for the full story and review.
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Image - @archierosesyd

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Oz Whisky Review is an independent online magazine for anyone curious about the Australian whisky industry. We taste and write about whisky through a creative, critical and honest lens, and revel in bringing you the stories and histories behind this fascinating industry.

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